Christian Family Life Communique #3

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

Greetings one and all on this Advent Season with it brings a strong sense of longing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you to those who send me their communiqués.  I enjoy reading them.  Thank you.

I received a communiqué from our National Christian Family Chairperson and from that I will inform you of timely and important issues.

A recent report commissioned by Life Canada shows that we on evenly split on the question of euthanasia versus palliative care (approx. 44 per cent either way).  Pending on the ages asked deemed how they answered.  I.e. over 60 years went with palliative care about 51 per cent.  We are to remember that; good palliative care provides effective pain management and support for those dying.  It is up to us members to petition political leaders to take action so that those in need get the proper palliative care.

I have been asked to share with you these definitions in regards to Elder Care.

Will:  a written document that directs how your assets are to be distributed after death.  It is not effective until death.

Power of Attorney: a written document that gives another person the right to act on your behalf.  It can be effective immediately or upon a certain contingency, for example, incapacity.

Health Care Directive: a Living Will or a Directive to Physicians.  You may be familiar to this document due to the Terri Schiavo case.  It sets forth your wished as to life support and related matters and names a person to ensure that your wishes are carried out.

Probate: a will is filled with the court and a legal proceeding started, the proceeding is called a probate.  Probate confirms that the filled will is in fact the last will and testament of the deceased and the named estate trustee has the authority to administer the estate.

Guardianship: is a formal, court-appointed method of substitute decision making on behalf of a person who is unable to manage his or her own affairs.  Guardianship of incapacitated adults is also known as conservatorship or interdiction, and can be necessary to provide a person with care.  It is, however, an undertaking in which the ward loses substantial right.  In recent years, there have been increasing reports of guardianship abuse.  You may want to look to these sites for more information.

www.facinglife.tv (Life Issues Institute, Inc.)

With the new national election over we must diligent in monitoring closely the new government to see what bills are being brought back, also any changes that have been made to the original bills presented that died on the floor when the election was called as well as any new ones to be brought forward.On December 10^th, pro-abortion groups will present petitions asking the United Nation’s General Assembly to make abortion a universally recognized human right.  The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute created an alternate petition drive that calls for government to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion…

Check out their web site www.c-fam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp .

The Family: 

It is a challenge to raise children in a normal family.  Many of the values of the present age are radically different from the values of our Lord Jesus.

For us parents there is no possibility of separation from the world we live in to raise our children.  We have to work at raising our children with Christian values. 

Some of us parents have to make various decisions when it comes to our children; it could be to disconnect the television, or the amount of time on the computer, playing video games etc.  We may even have to make decisions about what schools our children will attend.  There are also family’s who make decisions about what other children are allowed in the lives of their own children and about what families can become friend of their own family.

When we as parents or children go out of our homes, we (they) encounter so many influences that are opposed to following Jesus Christ.  We must always continue to keep Christ in our home and in our Family…no matter what!

We must have Love in the home!  Love is; about serving one another.  I took a course and this is what I learnt about Love; our role model is Jesus at the Last Supper when He gets down on His knees and washes the feet of His disciples.  That image, of Jesus on His Knees, should be the role model for all of us.  Let it be a challenge for us to wash each other’s feet even in our own families.

Quote: from a Benedictine Monk; “in families many go through difficult times in life.  The Spiritual traditions of our church teach us, to be silent and still.  If we cannot be silent and still, then we must work at being silent and still.  Nothing is gained by haste.   Surely there are times when decisions must be made immediately, but normally there is time to think, pray and ponder.  We are always invited to love more and to be more faithful in following our Lord.” 

We can learn from this.  (from Provincial Newsletter)

I will keep you and your family in my prayers sincerely your sister in the League. Have a blessed Christmas.