Andrew Denton: "God Does Not Exist. Now Let Me Tell You How to Be a Good Christian"

Entertainer slams the Catholic Church for opposing euthanasia

The Australian newspaper reported this week that Catholic priests are likely to deny the last rites to people who commit suicide with the help of the state.

“Catholic priests to deny last rides in VAD (Voluntary Assisted Dying) backlash,” the headline read.

In other words, the church will continue to uphold the sanctity of life, even in the face of enormous pressure from the state and euthanasia activists.

Well thank God.

Governments - with their support for late term abortions at the start of life and unbridled enthusiasm for euthanasia at the end - can hardly be relied upon to uphold the value of life.

Christianity is pro-life. If you want people to cheer you as you engage the State to help you die, you might need to find a different religion.

But it’s interesting to me that the Catholic Church’s rejection of euthanasia is news.

Is it news because people are surprised the church is willing to take a stand on a cultural issue?

Or is it news because the media cannot imagine anyone - not even the Catholic Church - holding fast to timeless truths rather than bowing to the truth of the moment?

If the church said it’s ministers would bless euthanasia, that would be a news story, since it would represent a complete u-turn on 2000 years of Christian teaching.

I suspect the church’s intransigence on the issue is news because, as Westerners, we are so wedded to the concept of individual autonomy that we cannot imagine anyone - not even God Himself - daring to disagree with our personal choices.

If God loves us, as the church teaches, shouldn’t He cheer every lifestyle choice. And why not our deaths, while He is at it?

People who make a deliberate decision to act against the tenants of the Christian faith expect that same faith to enthusiastically bless them as they do. Talk about entitlement! (But then, isn’t that the very reason we need Christianity - to cure our innate sense of entitlement?)

Christianity is not a cult dispensing emotional support to whatever utilitarian approaches one chooses. It is an internally consistent moral framework based on fundamental  commandments (e.g. "Thou shalt not kill"). If one cannot accept this, then then one is free to look elsewhere for comfort.

TV identity Andrew Denton, whose advocacy has been important to governments’ embrace of euthanasia, described the Catholic Church position as “a shameful act, devoid of love or Christian mercy towards the dying”.

“It is difficult to conceive of a less-loving or, indeed, Christian act,” he said.

So Denton, who is an atheist, will tell people how to be good Christians.

‘There is no God! Now let me instruct you on how to be a good Catholic.’

Who does Denton think he is? The Pope?

Denton is typical of the new totalitarian elites who now afflict Western civilisation. He and his ilk want everyone to be subservient and obedient, and to accept that people like him are the arbitrators of morality.

But worse, Denton completely misrepresents what the Catholic leadership said. They never said a priest would refuse to attend a person’s deathbed or that they would withhold compassion.

The Archbishop was very clear that pastoral support and prayers would still be offered. He simply said that if a person chooses to directly contravene Catholic teaching they couldn’t, at the same time, expect a Catholic blessing (the sacraments).

Denton twists the Archbishop’s words to make a political point. As Denton might say, it is difficult to conceive of a less-loving or, indeed, Christian act.

Undeterred by context or nuance, Denton continued …

“It is little wonder that the latest census revealed that the Catholic Church in Australia is losing members at a historic rate.”

Denton’s comments would be pertinent if the church was running a popularity contest. But Christianity is true whether everyone believes it or no-one believes it. The sun, after all, does not stop shining just because people close their eyes.

He continued …

“If the leaders of this institution – which receives enormous subsidies from Australian taxpayers – wish to continue their acts of ferocity and contempt towards the wishes and laws of the broader community, then they can expect to see more of the same.”

Hilarious. On the one hand people like Denton bang on about the importance of separation of church and state … and, on the other hand, they threaten the church with penalties if they don’t tow the State line.

Does Denton really expect Christianity to change its doctrine every time the State changes its laws?

Evidently, yes.

I believe Denton is an intelligent and compassionate man. But the entertainer suffers from the conceit of many a public intellectual, believing that his way is the only informed way.

It leaves him sounding as doctrinaire as those he criticizes.