OUR CHIEF enemy is the slate, but there is another
power which can be equally oppressive —- organized
religion. When the (wo are affied, as (hey have usually

been throughout history, the common man should (remble.

In Canada the common man
supports organized religion, even
though church attendance figures
indicate he would prefer not to.
Churches escape most of the taxes
the rest of the people pay.

However, i) Canada, church
and state have usually kept their
distance, \Ve have avoided the
open alliance of governments and
churches in recent years.

‘The last major church-state

- oppression was in Quebec where it
endured until the 1960s when,

‘with the departure of Maurice
Duplessis, the political powsr of
the church evaporated almost
overnight.

With the memory of a heavy.
handed theocracy fresher in their
minds, Quebecers may be more
alert than other Canadians to at-
tempts by the church to revive its
secular authority.

The rest of Canada is less tikely
to recognize the danger of mixing
teligion and politics and for that
reason, the English language press

probably won't pay much agen.

“tion to the latest developments in
the Sue Rodriguez case. .

Ms. Rodriguez is dying of Lou
Gelzig's Disease and has been
battling our prime enemy, our
government, for the right to die
with dignity in a doctor-assisted
suicide. ‘

Most ordinary men and women
-~ How can anyone say how
many? Nine out of 10? Eight out
of 10? — would say that Ms.

- Rodriguez's right to commit
suicide is a matter entirely be-
tween her and whatever God she
worships and that Lord State
Almighty has no right to sentence
her to needless and unjustified
suffering.

To a moderate degree, the
tyrant state recognizes the indi-
vidual citizen’s right to death.

Suicide is not.2 criminal of-
fence. There is one obvious
reason. A suicide can’t be punish-
.ed. ;

However the state’s acceptance

_ of the right to die is more clearly
shown in that attempted suicide is.
also legal.

Only assisting in a suicide is
' subject to penalty and that is the

. burden from which Ms. Rodriguez
seeks relief. ;

Do-it-yourself suicides can be
as gruesome as do-it-yourself

’ abortions, another atrocity
brought about by state tyranny,

~ One now temporarily but probably

' pot permanently in abeyance.

_,, This tragic story of the state’s
‘inhumanity to man has been play-

- ing out in our courts for a year,
while this poor woman’s suffering

persists, and it now goes before

’.. the Supreme Court of Canada.

Courts are, to a degree, replac-
ing Parliament as law-makers.

- This, too, was sadly demonstrated

* “jn the Rodriguez case.

Asked to debate euthanasia in
the Commons,. the MPs tucked
their tails between their legs and
ran, a shameful exhibition of
weakness and moral cowardice

Buying or selling ws
- You want a Realtor at your

“beck and call," so call BECK f

925-2911
anytime!

Paul
st.

Pierre

tf
fined Mane

PAULITICS & PERSPECTIVES
that has further discredited the
democratic institution to which
they were elected.

Now comes a new and more
frightening develapment in the
Radriguez cave, Organized religion
wants to intervene at the Supreme
Court hearing to tell the judges
their duty,

This holy alliance consists of
bishops of the Roman Catholic |
Chureh, Canada’s largest eligious
body, and the Evangelicat
Fellowship of Canada.

Ordinary people would do well

to ask why the priésthood wants

to intervene, :

Does anything in the Rodriguez
case threaten their right to preach
to their parishioners?

No.

Does the Rodriguez case
threaten Christians’ rights to wor-
ship?

No.

Is there any suggestion churches
night lose their tax privileges and
be treated as the common people
are treated?

No.

Is there any way in which this
woman's suicide could detract
from the power of priests and
pastors?

Again, as to all the questions,
the answer is no. .

There remains oniy one reason
for intervention by the church
hierarchies — the craving for
secular power,

The churches seck what they
have sought and all (oo often held
in nations around the world — the
right to impose their religious
beliefs upon other citizens by stare
law,

In the application for perniis-
sion to meddle in the Rodriguez
hearing, the churches say they

ant to argue that suicide and
assisted suicide are fundamentally
contrary to the human nature and
the supremacy of God.

Their views of human nature.
Their God. They want the state to
impose the supremacy of orgu-
nized religion's views by law.

So did the Inquisition,

Friday, April 23, 1993 ~ North Shore News -

KEN BAXTER _. ee

LAWYER

24 Years
Experience

LONSDALE QUAY
NORTH VANCOUVER

988-6321

Progressive Conservative Party of North Vancouver

Notice of Delegate Selection Meeting

Selection of delegates to the Party Leadership
Convention in Ottawa
June 9-13, 1993

Delbrook Recreation Centre
600 W. Queens Rd., N. Vancouver

Friday, May 7, 1993 at 7:00 PM

Place:

Date:

Only persons holding a valid membership are entitl-
ed to vote. .

For more info: Don Greemvood 985-7680

JEWELLERS

Importers of gemstones / manufacturers of fine jewellery

Capilano Mall, North Vancouver, B.C.
Eaton Center — 1130-4700 Kingsway,

984-2040
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