Photo from National Right to Life News Today
Before I share most of the article by Mr. Schadenberg, printed in The National Right to Life News Today (I edited out some suggested reading that had no links), there are a few things about this story that you should know.
Here are a few quotes from this USA Today article:
1. “Distraught about going blind, 45-year-old deaf twin brothers from Belgium chose to be euthanized because they couldn’t bear not to see one another, according to reports from Flanders.”
2. “Calling legal euthanasia a ‘slippery slope,’ Catholic Online declares, ‘It is only a matter of time before we report the story of the first child euthanized in Belgium,’ which is predominantly Catholic.”
3. “Besides Belgium, voluntary euthanasia — generally called assisted suicide in the USA — is legal in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Oregon, Washington, and Montana.”
You should also know that the twins had to go to court and fight for the “right” to end their lives.
You should also know that Belgium’s Socialist Party leader, Thierry Giet, supports expanding euthanization laws to include those under 18 and Alzheimer’s sufferers.
My comment:
Life is getting cheaper every day. Man is playing God in so many ways. I think this idea of choosing to die when you want will only become more widespread. No one likes pain, but how does a person know that God can’t use them for His glory after going through a difficult illness? Helping others in difficult times is a rewarding and valuable experience for all involved.
I agree with Catholic Online. I think legal euthanasia is a very ‘slippery slope.’
CR
Here is the article that appeared in The National Right to Life News Today:
By Alex Schadenberg,
Executive Director Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
To preface my blog article about the recent articles concerning the practice of euthanasia in Belgium, one needs to acknowledge that the Quebec government is considering legalizing Belgian style euthanasia through the back-door.
The Daily Mail newspaper in the UK published an article today that that was written by James Rush and Damien Gayle and titled: Deaf twins who discovered that they were going blind are euthanized in Belgium hospital.
“On December 14, 2012, identical twin brothers who were born deaf died by euthanasia at the Belgium University Hospital in Jette, even though they were not sick, they were not yet blind, and they had lived a productive life together. They died by lethal injection.”
The article states:
“Euthanasia is legal under Belgian law if those making the decision can make their wishes clear and are suffering unbearable pain, according to a doctor’s judgment. …
“But this case was unusual as neither twin was suffering extreme physical pain or was terminally ill.
“The two brothers, who have not been named but were pictured on Belgian television, both worked as cobblers and shared a flat together, The Telegraph has reported.”
The article in the Daily Mail also reported that the 45 year old twins died by euthanasia only days before the ruling socialist government announced plans to expand the Belgian euthanasia law to include children with disabilities and people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The article stated:
Just days after the twins were killed Belgium’s ruling Socialists tabled a legal amendment which would allow the euthanasia of children and Alzheimer’s sufferers. …
It is clear, that what is occurring in Belgium is the logical extension to legalizing euthanasia. If it is acceptable to kill one group of people in society by euthanasia then it will soon become acceptable to kill other groups of people in society by euthanasia.
These men were not suffering, they were not sick but they were deemed to be “better off dead.”
The Daily Mail article concludes by stating that in 2011 there were 1133 reported cases of euthanasia in Belgium.
It is important to note that in Belgium studies indicate that up to 47% of all euthanasia deaths go unreported.
Editor’s note. This appeared on Alex’s fine blog.
You may see the article here.
Wings of the Wind 
The so -called values of Socialism are ever increasing in the “morally bankrupt society of man.” From time to time the evil one brings a deeper manifestation of his control of unregenerate mankind and their “values.”
Their values are the values of the evil one, which shows no concern for a persons life. Keep them in the darkness of a hopeless world where only man’s pleasure rules their lives. This world is filled with Moralless cowards. Fear is a spirit that seeks, death to all it controls.
These two men were locked into that fear that drove them to commit suicide and man’s value system obliged them. It starts off small then like Hitler it reaches mass proportions and the world yawns and goes back to their toys.
Hi Manny.
This is indeed a manifestation of which you “speak.”
Your comment reminds me of the first half of John 10:10:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;”
Praise God for the second half of the verse:
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
And then there are verses 11 and 12:
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”
The hired hand here could easily be the “morally bankrupt society of man” that you mention.
Always nice to hear from you my friend…