Sir, - Your "Well and Good" (March 17th) feature articles on euthanasia in The Netherlands and elsewhere illustrate what happens when the eschatology (i.e. next life views) of atheistic humanists holds sway. Nowhere, in the opinion relayed at length in the articles, was it noted that that eschatology justifies not only assisted suicide, but self administered suicide at all life stages. In both cases, those involved think that they are better off dead than alive - which, of course, they are if there is no life (and therefore no possibility of pain) after death.
Similar eschatology permeated our recent two hour Late Late Show on suicide. Though they were discussing Catholics who self destruct and were themselves Catholics, the professionals thought like atheistic humanists. The possibility of Hell pain forever used to be a most effective reason for saying "No" to suicide and euthanasia temptations. It is no coincidence, surely, that the downplaying of that possibility in recent years has been accompanied by a sharp rise in the incidence of suicide and euthanasia, reported and unreported. Neither the Late Late Show nor other media treatments considered that. Instead they, like your "Well & Good", stayed within atheistic, humanistic limits.
However, even if we assume that those who choose suicide and euthanasia, and their assistants, need not worry about Hell pain, there is for them the possibility of mild to severe Purgatory pain after death, due to being more callous (i.e. not doing one's best to lessen pain) than compassionate in this life. For those (mainly Catholics) who believe in Purgatory, the point in saying "No" to suicide and euthanasia temptations, when faced with painful possibilities in this life, is that Purgatory pain is more severe: than anything we could endure in this life and is lessened by enduring the latter.
I doubt if many of your readers see Purgatory in that light. Yet belief in it is now the key eschatology reason for saying "No" to suicide and euthanasia (and in deed abortion) temptations. Maybe that is why the atheistic humanists who dominate our media exchanges are so careful to exclude (i.e. censor) attempts to, have it considered. - Yours, etc.,
SSFP (Save Souls From Purgatory),
Sandford Road,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.