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Luxembourg Legalizes Euthanasia
LifeSiteNews ^ | 3/18/09 | Thaddeus M. Baklinski

Posted on 03/18/2009 1:18:45 PM PDT by wagglebee

LUXEMBOURG, March 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Luxembourg has enacted legislation to legalise euthanasia, thereby becoming the third European country, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to permit the intentional killing of dying or otherwise vulnerable people.

The Palliative Care/Euthanasia bill was published in the Official Journal on Tuesday and provides that doctors who carry out euthanasia and assisted suicides will not face "penal sanctions" or civil lawsuits.

"This bill is not a permit to kill," said Socialist lawmaker Lydie Err, who helped draft it. "It's not a law for the parents or the doctors but for the patient and the patient alone to decide if he wants to put an end to his suffering."
 
According to the bill, euthanasia will be regulated by a living will or advance directive. Doctors will also be required to consult with a colleague to ensure that the patient has a terminal illness and is in a "grave and incurable condition" before killing him.

Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition condemned the actions of the Luxembourg parliament.

"It is a very sad day for Luxembourg. The nation of Luxembourg has now approved the direct and intentional killing of its citizens at the most vulnerable time of their life," he said. "Whatever good intentions that may be related to the elimination of suffering, cannot justify the removal of the basic protection of a citizen to be free from lethal coercion, and the protection of life."
 
"After many years of euthanasia in the Netherlands, it has now become very apparent that the euthanasia experiment is a failure. Children born with disabilities can be killed if the doctors and the family follow the Groningen Protocol. People with chronic depression can be killed and in the last government report in 2005 it stated that 550 people were killed by euthanasia without consent."

Schadenberg concluded: "Now Luxembourg is following the path of the Netherlands. I lament the decision and I hope that other national leaders will have the fortitude, like the Grand Duke, to oppose the direct and intentional killing by euthanasia of their vulnerable citizens."

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg made headlines in December of last year, after he announced that he would not be willing to affix his signature to the new law, as is required for a law to become effective. To solve this problem parliament simply enacted legislation removing the Grand Duke's veto power.
 
Last December Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "deep concern" for the advance of euthanasia legislation in Luxembourg, saying that politicians should remember that taking innocent human life is always wrong.

In an audience with Luxembourg ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Duh, the Holy Father spoke about his "most deep concern about the text of the law on euthanasia and assisted suicide."

The Pope objected to the proposed bill that "concretely legitimizes the possibility of ending life."

"Political leaders, whose duty is to serve the good of man, as well as doctors and families, must remember that the deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of his life is always bad from the moral point of view, and can never be licit," he said. "Love and true compassion embark on another path."

Addressing the people of Luxembourg, once a predominantly Catholic country, Benedict XVI appealed to their "Christian and humanistic roots," and asked them to reaffirm the "greatness and the inviolable character of human life."

To express your concern contact the Minister of State of Luxembourg:
Jean-Claude Juncker
Domicile:
37, route d'Arlon
L-5310 Capellen
Luxembourg, Europe

Government:
4, rue de la Congrégation, L - 1352 Luxembourg, Europe
Tel : 011 352 478 2106
Fax : 011 352 46 17 20
Email : ministere.etat@me.etat.lu



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: euthanasia; luxembourg; moralabsolutes; prolife
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"Whatever good intentions that may be related to the elimination of suffering, cannot justify the removal of the basic protection of a citizen to be free from lethal coercion, and the protection of life."

Perfectly stated!

1 posted on 03/18/2009 1:18:45 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; Salvation; 8mmMauser

Pro-Life Ping


2 posted on 03/18/2009 1:19:16 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 185JHP; 230FMJ; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee or DirtyHarryY2K to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


3 posted on 03/18/2009 1:19:52 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: wagglebee

Not good, not by a long shot.


5 posted on 03/18/2009 1:38:40 PM PDT by Professor_Leonide (I said to the young man who showed me a photo, "Who can ever be sure what is behind a mask?")
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To: Morgana; wagglebee; zot

Agreed. Euthanasia was considered one of the “war crimes” the Nazi’s were charged with. However, with abortion seen as a “right” and the secularization of society and the demise of Christian belief and with it the concept of sanctity of life, can we honestly be surprised.


6 posted on 03/18/2009 1:43:22 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead (3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87))
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To: GreyFriar; Morgana
Here is more on the Nazi Euthanasia program.

This person suffering from hereditary defects
costs the people 60,000 Reichmarks during his lifetime.
People, that is your money. Read ‘New People’.

7 posted on 03/18/2009 1:48:11 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee; Morgana

and think how much more we could save in health care dollars if the united states under its proposed socialist health care system instituted programs such as those with downs syndrome and other diseases that renders the fetus imperfect in life?

It will eventually come to that!


8 posted on 03/18/2009 4:38:55 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead (3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87))
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To: All
Pinged from Terri Dailies


9 posted on 03/18/2009 4:53:36 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Morgana

I’m here and know that. What I am talking about is instituting a program whereby the government gets rid of the downs syndrome and other disable folks who are currently “sucking vital health care dollars” from the poor, illegal aliens, and other needy folks. I guess they can call this “post partum abortion” instead of the less popular and emotionally laden term of murder or execution. Of course since this is being done to the innocent in the name of the benefit of society, it will not be opposed by those groups that are against the death penalty for murderers found so by juries.


12 posted on 03/18/2009 5:43:34 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead (3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87))
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To: GreyFriar

Eventually they will pass a law that everyone over the age of 75 has the duty to die.


13 posted on 03/18/2009 6:58:42 PM PDT by zot
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To: wagglebee; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...
Related - From Catholic News Agency


Luxemburg legalizes euthanasia after putting limits on Grand Duke’s power

Catholic Ping
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14 posted on 03/19/2009 1:05:11 PM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: wagglebee

Isn’t Luxembourg a Catholic country? Like Monaco, where the state religion is Roman Catholicism?

Grand Duke Jean has always been a pro-life, church going Vatholic. Can they just take away his veto power like that?


15 posted on 03/19/2009 1:48:36 PM PDT by Cincinna (TIME TO REBUILD * PALIN * JINDAL * CANTOR 2012)
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To: wagglebee
"Whatever good intentions that may be related to the elimination of suffering, cannot justify the removal of the basic protection of a citizen to be free from lethal coercion, and the protection of life."

Perfectly stated!

Yes, perfectly! The slippery slope has just opened another lane, for faster 'service'.

16 posted on 03/19/2009 1:48:54 PM PDT by fortunecookie (Please pray for Anna, age 7, who waits for a new kidney.)
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To: NYer
"This bill is not a permit to kill," said Socialist lawmaker Lydie Err, who helped draft it. "It's not a law for the parents or the doctors but for the patient and the patient alone to decide if he wants to put an end to his suffering."

Just like the formation of the EU and membership therein was not intended to supercede the individual country's rulers powers and authority. Yeah, right, tell that to the beleaguered Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Aaah, another fine action of another socialist to 'protect'. I'm guessing Lydia won't ever be in line for this abomination she helped create, it will be for 'other' people. Blech.

17 posted on 03/19/2009 1:52:19 PM PDT by fortunecookie (Please pray for Anna, age 7, who waits for a new kidney.)
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To: Cincinna
The Grand Duke agreed to having his powers removed:

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg opposes euthanasia and loses power
 
Catholic Grand Duke Risks Power by Not Approving Law on Euthanasia in Luxembourg
 
Pope Decries Euthanasia as Evil as Luxembourg Parliament Advances with Assisted Suicide Legalization

18 posted on 03/19/2009 1:55:08 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

GRAND DUKE HENRI
Fascinating story of the longest reigning Royal Family in the world. dating back to 613 AD.

His wife is Maria Teresa Batista, from Cuba

Henri’s patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son.

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that if Duke Henri were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Robert, as all his male-line ancestors have been of that house.

Henri is a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma, a sub-branch of the House of Spain, itself originally a branch of the House of France, and thus of the House of Capet and of the Robertians.

Henri’s patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. It follows the Dukes of Parma as well as the Kings of Spain, France, and Navarre. The line can be traced back more than 1,400 years and is one of the oldest in Europe.

Robert or Radon, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia in 613
Robert, Referendary in 629 and Duke in 631
Erlebert, Noble of Therouanne
Robert, Mayor of the Palace of Neustria in 653, Referendary in 658 and Count in Alsace in 673
Robert I of Worms and Rheingau, d. 764
Thuringbert of Worms and Rheingau
Robert II of Worms and Rheingau (Robert of Hesbaye), 770 - 807
Robert III of Worms and Rheingau, 808 - 834
Robert IV the Strong, 820 - 866
Robert I of France, 866 - 923
Hugh the Great, 895 - 956
Hugh Capet, 941 - 996
Robert II of France, 972 - 1031
Henry I of France, 1008 - 1060
Philip I of France, 1053 - 1108
Louis VI of France, 1081 - 1137
Louis VII of France, 1120 - 1180
Philip II of France, 1165 - 1223
Louis VIII of France, 1187 - 1226
Louis IX of France, 1215 - 1270
Robert, Count of Clermont, 1256 - 1317
Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, 1279 - 1342
James I, Count of La Marche, 1319 - 1362
John I, Count of La Marche, 1344 - 1393
Louis, Count of Vendôme, 1376 - 1446
Jean VIII, Count of Vendôme, 1428 - 1478
François, Count of Vendôme, 1470 - 1495
Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, 1489 - 1537
Antoine of Navarre, 1518 - 1562
Henry IV of France, 1553 - 1610
Louis XIII of France, 1601 - 1643
Louis XIV of France, 1638 - 1715
Louis, Dauphin of France (1661-1711), 1661 - 1711
Philip V of Spain, 1683 - 1746
Philip, Duke of Parma, 1720 - 1765
Ferdinand, Duke of Parma, 1751 - 1802
Louis of Etruria, 1773 - 1803
Charles II, Duke of Parma, 1799 - 1883
Charles III, Duke of Parma, 1823 - 1854
Robert I, Duke of Parma, 1848 - 1907
Felix of Bourbon-Parma, 1893 - 1970
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 1921 -
Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 1955 - The descent before Robert of Worms is taken from [1] and may be partially fabricated. If not, then Henri’s patriline would be the longest of any currently ruling European ruler.


19 posted on 03/19/2009 2:14:42 PM PDT by Cincinna (TIME TO REBUILD * PALIN * JINDAL * CANTOR 2012)
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To: Cincinna

Very interesting, thanks.


20 posted on 03/19/2009 2:16:50 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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