THE THINGS PEOPLE DO IN THE NAME OF RELIGION

The Adelaide Sunday Mail of 11 November 2007 carried an article headlined “Died For Her Faith”, reporting the death of a 22 year old English woman, a Jehovah’s Witness, who refused a life-saving blood transfusion after the birth of a twin son and daughter. It was written almost as if this woman was some sort of hero whereas I would say that this was one of the most selfish acts it is possible to imagine. To wilfully allow yourself to die when the means of living are immediately available, and thus knowingly derive two children of their mother can only be an act of supreme selfishness.

And once again, it is done in the name of some warped “religion” that claims that having a blood transfusion is the equivalent of adultery or sexual immorality. Apart from the fact that that is simply nonsense, even if it were supportable, neither adultery or sexual immorality would deny the children access to their mother. In circumstances such as this, the claim that religious faith should take precedence over the most precious right of a child, to receive the love of a caring mother, is some sort of sick joke.

The law should be clear and unambiguous. Refusal of a lifesaving transfusion on the grounds of religious faith should be made illegal. Full stop. And just in case anyone is foolish enough to try to extend this principle to euthanasia, I need to be very clear – euthanasia ought to be available under closely controlled conditions. This action by Emma Gough was not taken to end intolerable and unrelievable pain. It was based on a stomach churning distortion labelled “religious faith”. It is hardly any wonder that opponents of organised religion are gaining so much ground when this type of bias and bigotry can be allowed to flourish, and reported as some sort of brave, self-denying sacrifice.

Oh yes, it was a sacrifice all right. Two wholly innocent babies were sacrificed in the name of “religion”. In circumstances like this, I find it sad that there is no god to judge their actions. For if this was the case, any half-way just god would damn all adherents of such a principle to the deepest and darkest available hell. Perhaps these people should read and reflect on their own holy book, Matthew Chapter 18, Verse 6, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”