President Macron wishes to establish a “legal framework” concerning euthanasia and assisted suicide which has been illegal in France until now. In this context, two philosophers and a journalist comment: Euthanasia is an anthropological rupture: Society is not just a juxtaposition of individual freedoms. We are bound. A law can be repressive, but it is also expressive: it translates the values of a society. No one is alone in this gesture. This causes shocks throughout society. Helping someone to die is saying to him: yes, your life is indeed worth nothing. It is breaking a civilizing taboo. We will no longer call killing the name of killing but it is the right to kill that will be legalized.
LIFEAlerts
Adolescents’ views on pornography (UK)
After 30 qualitative studies were examined to determine young peoples’ views on pornography, the following conclusions derived:
- Young people consider porn as normal;
- They see porn as a tool for pleasure;
- They see it as a form of information;
- Young people do become distressed by misogynistic (strongly prejudiced against women), racist, homophobic, transphobic, or violent pornography content;
- Young people express the need to have trusted adults to discuss their needs with; and
- The lack of trusted adults causes young people to develop harmful attitudes and unrealistic expectations about sex.
Peterson, A. J., Silver, J. K., Bell, H. A., Guinosso, S. A., & Coyle, K. K. (2022). Young People’s Views on Pornography and Their Sexual Development, Attitudes, and Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative Research. American Journal of Sexuality Education, DOI: 10.1080/15546128.2022.2096163
Uruguayan Lower House committee okays euthanasia bill (Uruguay)
On Tuesday 6th September 2022, The Health Committee of Uruguay’s Lower House has passed a bill approving euthanasia. “Any person of legal age, psychically fit, who suffers from one or more chronic, incurable and irreversible pathologies or health conditions that seriously undermine their quality of life, causing them unbearable suffering, has the right to be euthanized at their request”. A patient who wishes to receive assistance in dying must go through a series of stages and medical interviews before his/her request is approved: interview with two different physicians within a period of no more than ten days, record in writing of his/her will to die before two witnesses in the three following days of the last interview. The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) must be informed.
Where Most People Die by Assisted Suicide (USA)
Official data shows that the number of people dying with assistance has been rising much faster in Canada over the past three years than in other countries where assisted suicide or euthanasia are legal. The Netherlands and Belgium which, like Canada, allow both have seen numbers rise more slowly. The United States also saw a somewhat faster rise in those dying by self-administered physician-assisted suicide over the past four years (euthanasia is not legal in the U.S.). This was also aided by the fact that four states – New Jersey, Hawaii, Maine and New Mexico – legalized it between 2018 and 2021, while two more populous ones, Colorado and California, started the practice in 2016. Switzerland is another practitioner of physician-assisted suicide, but not euthanasia. 1,196 people died with assistance in the country in 2019, the latest year on record.
Judge agrees: the conscience rights of doctors violated in California (USA)
U.S. District Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha for the Central District of California ruled that California Senate Bill 380, which passed last year to amend the End of Life Option Act, that legalized assisted suicide in California violates the First Amendment rights of doctors by requiring them to participate in assisted suicide. SB 380 required a doctor who opposes assisted suicide to document a request for assisted suicide and that request was considered the first of two of the required requests. Therefore doctors who opposed assisted suicide were required to participate in the act. The case has not ended, but this decision is a great victory for conscience rights. Judge Aenlle-Rocha recognized that SB 380 violated the rights of physicians who oppose assisted suicide and he granted an injunction to prevent the egregious parts of the law from forcing physicians to participate in assisted suicide.
Pornography to be studied in junior class (Ireland)
A new Junior Cert curriculum will see lessons about pornography given in the classroom for the first time in Ireland, following a major review of Relationships and Sexuality Education. This could prove to be very controversial for parents. The draft curriculum will tackle pornography, with reference to the online world, and the sharing of sexual images. It will then further deal with consent and matters such as gender stereotyping. The Department of Education concluded that the existing approach to such education in schools was “heavily concerned with the risks and dangers associated with relationships.” “Every school, irrespective of ethos, will have to deliver it.” The curriculum involves consent, safe use of the internet, pornography, gender identity and sexual orientation, healthy and positive relationships, and addiction issues. Senator O’Reilly said it is important to have an “education that is not tied to religious or other ethos”.
More underage schoolgirls join prostitution (South Africa)
A growing number of school pupils are engaging in prostitution. This is the view of delegates at a recent prostitution symposium that was organised by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Durban. There is a new trend where school learners who are underage work as prostitutes on weekends and go back to school on Monday. KwaZulu-Natal is estimated to have more than 30 000 sex workers with Durban accounting for the highest number of prostitutes. The Commission for Gender Equality also weighed in, saying the Chapter 9 institution backs calls to repel all laws against prostitution. The proposals deliberated will be tabled to the provincial legislature for MPLs to discuss before KwaZulu-Natal engages other provinces about the matter.
A man accused of attempted murder euthanized before his trial (Spain)
Tuesday, August 23, Marin Eugen Sabau was euthanized before being tried for shooting four people. This 46-year-old man was paralyzed during the shooting that injured several people in Tarragona, Spain He was then accused of five attempted murders and demanded euthanasia. “The victims have a feeling of frustration, underlined José Antonio Bitos, lawyer of two wounded police officers, one let a person decide when and how it finishes with the legal proceedings”. The police will obtain compensation from the public administration, having been injured in service. This is not the case for the other victims who “will have neither trial nor compensation”, points out the lawyer.
State failing to shield women prostitution (South Africa)
If the government is not implementing the wishes of the people, and it most certainly is not, whose agenda is it imposing on South Africans? Clearly, that of the politically correct international community, or the New World Order! Our government pays lip service to democracy and the will of the people. But survey after survey has shown that the majority reject abortion, pornography and support the death penalty. Human dignity is also devalued by the legalisation of pornography. Prostitution is not about glamour and freedom of career choice. It is about deception, enslavement, brutality and suffering. Prostitutes are ruthlessly exploited by pimps who enrich themselves from their earnings. In addition, young girls are being drawn into prostitution. The average age of children entering prostitution is 12! Most runaways are drawn into prostitution within 48 hours of arriving in Hillbrow. Prostitution, even legalised prostitution, is in conflict with a number of sections of SA’s constitution. Section 13 says: “No one may be subjected to slavery, servitude or forced labour.” Section 12 talks among others, the freedom from being treated in a degrading way, freedom from all forms of violence and torture, and that women have the right to control over their own bodies. But all these rights are violated! Unfortunately, just like in the case of gender-based violence, our women do not speak with one voice, or sing from the same hymn book!
Pornography: Who Uses It and How It Is Associated with Couple Outcomes (USA)
Porn used to be a mostly male behaviour but now it impacts females as well. A strong sexual desire promotes porn use. Individuals with strong ties to religion are less likely to report pornography use. Non-violent pornography leads to the acceptance of violent or aggressive behaviour towards women. There is also evidence that extramarital sex and participating in paid sex are associated with online pornography use.