Under current laws, Dutch doctors can euthanize children older than 12 and younger than 1 with parental consent. “This is just closing the gap that was left,” Michel Shoun of Life Matters Worldwide says.

Lawmakers in the Netherlands aren’t the only European leaders loosening euthanasia norms.

“Belgium, their next-door neighbor, has very liberal euthanasia laws,” Shoun notes. Great Britain could see legislation by 2025 – a move discouraged by a former euthanasia advocate Dr. Bert Keizer.

(Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels)

“Thankfully, I don’t believe there’s any movement here [in the U.S.] to do similar things with minors and young people because we have pretty strong informed consent laws,” Shoun says.

“Whether it’s sexual activity and minors, or a kid being able to get an aspirin at school, they have to have a note from home. It’s assumed that young people can’t give consent for certain things.”

Christians serve a Lord that has risen from the dead, and this high regard for life has often led them to oppose euthanasia legislation. Pray many would see the love of Christians and seek the living hope of Jesus.

Life matters

Saving humanity is the heartbeat of the Gospel. It’s why Life Matters Worldwide partners with pro-life ministries around the world to establish and sustain them as effective Gospel outreaches.

Through its LIFT program, Life Matters equips church partners to come alongside families caring for elderly, terminally, or chronically ill people. As described here, LIFT divides needs and tasks into manageable chores that can be shared by several volunteers. No single individual, pastor, or deacon has to meet needs alone.

Learn more about LIFT here.

In the header image, two young girls with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) receiving chemotherapy. The girl on the left has an IV tube in the neck, the other girl’s IV is in her arm. They are sitting on a bed and are demonstrating some of the procedures and techniques used with chemotherapy.  (Photo, caption courtesy of National Cancer Institute via Unsplash)

“Our top priority is our patient’s health and safety. We comply with all federal, state and local laws and have extremely high medical standards.”
(Photo, caption from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast via Facebook)

USA (MNN) — There’s more to the Planned Parenthood scandal than meets the eye.

“This is a social problem, it’s a political problem, but we also want people to know this is a spiritual problem,” says Michele Shoun of Life Matters Worldwide.

This week’s seventh undercover video released by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) alleges an even more horrifying set of Planned Parenthood practices than previous accusations.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF CHILDREN ARE PRESENT.

The alleged practices described in CMP’s latest video, and those released before it, can turn the most desensitized stomach. But, that doesn’t mean we should “tune out.”

“I know that the videos are very hard to watch, but…I think you need to just be aware and be ready to talk about it,” says Shoun.

Confronting culture

Sometimes, exposing darkness is the only way to eradicate it. As painful as it may be to hear facts uncovered during the Planned Parenthood scandal, it could be the first of many steps toward healing and freedom.

“We hope women who’ve had abortions, at Planned Parenthood or elsewhere, will know that if they repent and turn to Christ, they can have their sins forgiven,” Shoun says.

“That’s definitely a message that needs to get out there.”

(Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue via Flickr)

Along with sharing this story on social media, you can take a literal stand for life.

“We should write to our senators and congressmen; we should get out there this weekend when 300 protests are going on throughout the country,” suggests Shoun.

Click here for more information about the #ProtestPP movement.

Speaking the Truth in love, our job as Christ-followers doesn’t stop there. We’re also called to introduce lost and hurting people to their Redeemer.

Sharing hope

(Photo courtesy Flickr/CC/BradRuggles)

Ask the Lord to show you when you can frame conversations about the Planned Parenthood scandal within a wider context of His love and Truth.

Pray for women who’ve had abortions. Pray that this current event creates opportunities that allow them to hear the salvation message.

“These videos can seem like condemnation, and we want to use it as an opportunity for the Gospel,” says Shoun.

“The Good News is: Jesus Christ forgives.”

See how Life Matters uses unexpected pregnancies to start Gospel conversations in the U.S. and abroad.