San Antonio Statement, 1989

Just discovered the wonderful statement made by the World Council of Churches (WCC) about how Christianity should relate to other faiths from their Conference in San Antonio, Texas in 1989. I also think it says a lot about how Christians should relate to other Christians.

"We cannot point to any other way of salvation than Jesus Christ; at the same time we cannot put any limit to God's saving power. There is a tension between these affirmations which we acknowledge and cannot resolve."

A right to die?

It's a good month and a half since I posted here and there are many things I have been thinking about during that time that are worthy of discussion here, not least my trip to Israel/Palestine which will have at least one post once I get my head round things. However I will start again by sharing an excellent article by Dominic Lawson from the Sunday Times about the assisted suicide debate currently taking place.

As it points out, this debate (as with many political and ethical debates) has been mainly carried out by those with "loud voices", and makes particular reference to Debbie Purdy who last week won the right to have clarification of the factors taken into account when deciding whether to prosecute those helping assisted suicides at the Swiss clinic Dignitas.

"One of the characteristics of those most determined on assisted suicides is that they are powerful personalities used to exercising total control — the polar opposite of those who would be the most likely victims of their campaign, were it to succeed. Purdy is quite typical, described in The Guardian as “a self-confessed adrenaline junkie who had revelled in travelling the world diving from planes, conquering mountains, trekking through jungles and exploring the depths of the oceans”. You can see why such a personality cannot bear to contemplate the complete loss of control that her condition might impose. Debbie Purdy is, in so many ways, an admirable woman."

It is of course more vulnerable people who will be affected by this in a negative way, particularly those who are elderly and/or have mental health issues. The article considers the specific case of one 90 year old women who, while currently enjoying life in a nursing home, is quite clear that if assisted suicide was made legal here she would feel it her duty to use that option so that her family could benefit financially. A point which isn't mentioned here is that those who are most strongly opposed to assisted suicide are medical professionals and particularly those who work with patients near the end of their life. Of course religious groups are strongly opposed too and their view is often discredited as "dogmatic" and "out of touch". Yet that shouldn't stop them making their voice heard. The church has been in the business of helping sick and dying people for well over a thousand years and still sees that as a huge part of its work. Crossreach, the Church of Scotland's Social Care Council, is the largest provide of Social Care in Scotland. Noone should attempt to discredit the views of a community so involved with these issues just because they have a strong religious faith which supports their opinions. I will leave the last word to Dominic Lawson as he says so succinctly what I'm sure many feel.

"When I saw her [Purdy] declare last Thursday, “I feel like I have my life back”, my stomach heaved. It is a sick society that regards assisted suicide as an affirmation of life."