A time to speak

Today I've had an article published in The Catholic Herald - which I must say I'm chuffed about. You can read it on line (http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/opinion/o0000320.shtml). I wrote a longer version which appeared elsewhere, but you can't access it on line. Basically I was saying if we don't say anything it will be assumed that the public consensus is in favour of assisted suicide. As Edmund Burke was reputed to have said, 'All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' Whatever view you take, this issue is too important to do, or say, nothing. There's a Downing Street petition, which says: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to retain the law that makes it a criminal offence to assist another person to commit suicide". I've put a link to it ('PETITION') to make it easy to add your name. And although it says it's past the deadline for signing, I did it successfully today. So you probably can as well - but quick! Actually I think we also need to talk about it in the pub, at work, on the radio - wherever we get the chance. Because I think life and individuals' lives are infinitely precious. I don't want any of my ill, or disabled, or elderly friends to have their lives ended prematurely. That doesn't mean officiously extended, but it does mean faithfully and tenderly cared for until the end. Life is given to me; it's not mine by right. And you can quote me on that!