Now that's what I call pro-life governance.
By tacitus Posted in User Blogs — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The Netherlands, whatever its glorious history as a bastion of pro-Americanism and Protestantism, is in the modern day a sad bastion of some of the more barbarous manifestations of secular Western culture. More pernicious than the infamous red-light district of Amsterdam is the growing Dutch fascination with the institutionalization and promotion of -- there is no other way to put it -- death. The grotesque spectacle of the Netherlands's euthanasia regime is perhaps the most prominent example; but where there is killing of the old and sick, there is inevitably killing of the young and well.
And so we get the abortion ship.
The ship itself is an unremarkable craft; the organization that operates it, Women on Waves, is reminiscent of nothing so much as the pre-Civil War American pro-slavers, desperate to expand their evil institutions to free lands -- lest its fruitful absence anywhere discredit them and their worldview. And so the vessel travels to nations with a strong pro-life traditions -- Ireland, Poland -- and, within sight of those shores, takes in women and kills their unborn children at their request. It is a veritable floating abbatoir, and hitherto the frustration of pro-life governments unable to stop its pernicious work so long as it circles in international waters.
"Hitherto" because the Portuguese are having none of it.
Portugal, with some of the strongest pro-life laws in Europe, is blocking the abortion ship from coming close enough to perform its work -- and threatening to sink it if it tries. Pathetically, while conceding the Portuguese right to do this, the Dutch government has interceded on behalf of the maritime symbol of what its once-proud nation has become. But Portugal will not bend: Portuguese courts have endorsed the stance, and it looks as if a lonely battle for life in Europe may here be won.
The fight goes on. But for now, bravo to tiny Portugal for standing firm where other nations and American courts flounder and fail.
Another place in Europe I can put on my "spend tourist dollars here" list. It was getting awful short.
God bless Portugal
Yes. And if one might be permitted to bask in a moment of ethnic pride, God bless the Portuguese.
And may God allow this to be the pebble that starts the avalanche.
It was a pretty lousy day, too. Thanks, Tac.
Great place to vacation. Good people, who absolutely love children.
And sad prayers for the Dutch.