Libertas candidate supports abortion, insults Pope

[marmurr1916]

Libertas candidate supports abortion, insults Pope and Catholic Church, calls for an EU 'without religious values'.

A Libertas candidate in England, John Dowdle ([COLOR=#0068cf]http://libertas-eastern.blogspot.com/2009/05/john-dowdle.html[/COLOR]) , who has been personally supported by Declan Ganley, has made statements designed to insult Catholics and religious believers of all faiths everywhere.

Here are some of the statements made by Mr. Dowdle:

Support for abortion:

"Abortion occurs naturally, of course, though it must be an extremely sad event for the mother when a child dies in her womb. On other occasions, if the physical or mental health of a woman is endangered, a medical termination of the pregnancy is justified."

([COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/yoursay/features/johndowdle/3831670.Who_is_pro_abortion_/[/COLOR])

Mockery of God and the Pope:

""God" has nothing to do with how we live our lives. As potentially intelligent beings, we can come to our own conclusions as to how we should lead our lives. We do not need to listen to men in dresses to be able to work out what we should be doing.

Joseph Ratzinger, after spending years suppressing child abuse complaints, has welcomed holocaust deniers into his church organisation and argued that the use of condoms in Africa has made the incidence of HIV/AIDS worse.

These two [the Pope and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury] rival Laurel and Hardy as the clowns of our century.

They are both completely out-of-touch in their core beliefs with the majority of humankind on Earth. If it was not for the fact that the subject areas they are referring to are so serious, their remarks could probably serve as poor examples of jokes.

I really think it is high time they started to think before speaking. Perhaps then they might find something useful to say - though I somehow doubt it."

([COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/yoursay/features/johndowdle/4236430.God___s_clowns_on_Earth_/[/COLOR])

Religions are like businesses:

"...the whole structure of religion screams out "BIG business" - and what a business model it is!!

Where else do other businesses get to tell their consumers how to behave in their personal lives? Can you imagine how much top executives of food and drink companies would love to be able to mould the opinions of their consumers about what they should eat and drink in the same way as religious businesses?

Where else can a corporation tell it's consumers how to behave so intrusively with regard to their sexual conduct such that the corporation's future consumers are maintained and expanded? Are all these people crazy?

In fact, real religion affords the opportunity for the elite who control the organisations to largely ignore the values and opinions of most of their consumers. The nearest alternative model to this is present-day Chinese-style capitalism.

Ultimately, religion is THE big business opportunity in the world, if - like the Elmer Gantry character - you can sell out any sense of humanity you may have.
We humanists have higher standards than money- and power-grubbing religionists.

We live with our own consciences, while - apparently - religionists never find any problem in blindly following the diktats of their corporate leaders."

([COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/yoursay/features/4288714.IS_RELIGION____BIG_BUSINESS____/[/COLOR])

Attacks on the Pope and the Catholic Church:

"Recently, we have had speeches from Mrs Windsor [the British Queen] about the state of the economy and how hard life will be for the poorer members of our society, as well as from Mr Ratzinger of Rome, telling us we should be helping the poorer residents of the world.

I find these year-end speeches by so-called celebrities ridiculous.

How much will they dip into their pockets to help the poor?

The answer is simple: Not One Penny !!

Why lecture the rest of us when they have absolutely no intention of doing anything whatsoever to make the situation better?

...

Mr Ratzinger and his fellow clerics actually make the world a far worse place by objecting to family planning techniques which would help to reduce poverty world-wide. They alone must carry a substantial burden of guilt for so many millions of people having to live in unimaginable poverty and destitution.

As a humanist, I would like to see people everywhere being able to enjoy good lives and being able to realise their full potential as human beings.

Let us all hope 2009 will be a year in which the forces of superstition and ignorance will begin to go into reverse in the world."

([COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/yoursay/features/johndowdle/4014380.What_do_they_care__/[/COLOR])

Would not sing hymn at the funeral of a friend:

"Last week I attended a memorial service at the West Herts Crematorium of an old friend who had died just before Xmas.

At one point in the very moving service, we were asked to join in singing a hymn.

As I looked at the meaningless words of the mournful dirge addressed to an entity that does not exist, I decided I would not join in singing the hymn but would, instead, try to recall Hughie as I had known him.

...

I have decided that I shall never again waste my time trying to sing along to hymns which contain sentiments I do not share but will instead use the time to recall the better memories I hold of others in the future.

...

I think we should all resist the moral blackmail of clerics and say, "No more hymns for us". Let our own memories act as testimony to the good that good people achieve in this one life we - and they - have."

Personal support from Declan Ganley:

"A millionaire politician and staunch critic of the European Union visited Watford this afternoon to meet old friends and support his party's local election campaign.

Libertas founder Declan Ganley, who was born and raised in Garston, visited his childhood home in Chichester Way and later campaigned in the town centre.

The Irish resident, who shot to fame last year after persuading voters there to reject the European Constitution, shared fond memories of his home town and leant his support to Eastern Region candidate and former borough [town] councillor John Dowdle."

([COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/4350761.Millionaire_politician_tours_home_town/[/COLOR])

[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#666666][FONT=Arial]John Dowdle, Watford says...
[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#666666][FONT=Arial]1:48am Fri 8 May 09[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#666666][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]I was delighted to meet up again with Declan Ganley, President of the European Libertas Party today in Watford.

In the afternoon, Declan - together with all the 8 Eastern Region Libertas' candidates and party officers - introduced us to local residents in Watford's High Street and distributed literature - and badges to younger people - while explaining our policies.

[COLOR=#444444]([/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/4350761.Millionaire_politician_tours_home_town/[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2] - comment beneath main newspaper article)[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Mr. John Dowdle, Libertas candidate with the personal support of Mr. Declan Ganley, is the President of the Watford branch of the British Humanist Association:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]John Dowdle is President of the Watford Area Humanist Group:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The Watford Area Humanists Group is affiliated to the British Humanist Association.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Humanism is a set of beliefs that includes:[/SIZE][/FONT]

• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Believing that all human beings can lead good lives without being ruled by fear or superstition. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Based upon impartial consideration of available evidence, that there are no gods or creator beings. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Based upon impartial consideration of available evidence, that there is no after-life. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Being happy and doing good for oneself and others in the one life we all have. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Living life on the basis of behaving towards others as you would like them to behave towards you. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Respect for all other life forms and the natural environment on our planet Earth. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]To contact us, please write to the following address or email [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#1161cd]John Dowdle[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2].[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Watford Area Humanists
49 Shaftesbury Road
WATFORD
Hertfordshire
WD17 2RG[/SIZE][/FONT]

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[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://watford.humanist.org.uk/?page_id=7[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]John Dowdle.
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]President
Email: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#1161cd]john.dowdle@watford.humanist.org.uk[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Telephone: 01923 252013[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]([/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0068cf]http://watford.humanist.org.uk/?page_id=54[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The Watford Humanist Association supports a secular European Union, without religious values:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]"Working with the BHA and European Humanist organisations to ensure any EU Constitution is developed on the basis of secular and not religious values. We believe European culture is a composite of many cultures, many of which pre-date the human creation of religions."[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://watford.humanist.org.uk/?page_id=45[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The Watford Area Humanist Group is affiliated to the British Humanist Association and supports its campaigns:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The Watford Area Humanists support campaigns by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and international Humanist organisations to achieve universal human rights which support individual freedom of belief and practices which do no harm to others.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]BHA campaigning activities can be accessed via the internet on: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#1161cd]http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms contentChapterView.asp?chapter=340[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2].[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Recent campaigning successes include:[/SIZE][/FONT]

• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The abolition of blasphemy and blasphemous libel laws. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Support for the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Act. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Support for various new Equality Acts. [/SIZE][/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Supporting an employee in a successful landmark religious discrimination tribunal ruling. [/SIZE][/FONT]

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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]([/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0068cf]http://watford.humanist.org.uk/?page_id=54[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2])[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The British Humanist Association supports abortion:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Abortion[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The British Humanist Association's position in regard to abortion is "pro-choice". We believe that the present law in England and Wales and Scotland is permissive: it does not impose abortion on anyone who does not want one or does not want to perform one.

For society as a whole, as well as for the children themselves, it is better if every child is a wanted child. However, abortion is not the best way of avoiding unwanted children, and improved sex education, easily available contraception, and better education and opportunities for young women, can all help to reduce the number of abortions. But as long as abortion is needed as a last resort, most humanists would agree that society should provide safe legal facilities. The alternatives, which would inevitably include illegal abortions, are far worse.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/ethical-issues/abortion[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The British Humanist Association wants British abortion law extended to Northern Ireland:[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]One of the amendments [to the British Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill] that was not debated was to extend the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. Although abortion in England, Wales and Scotland is legal, the law does not extend to Northern Ireland. Abortion in Northern Ireland is unlawful in most circumstances - it is only lawful where there is a real and serious risk to the woman's mental or physical health and the risk is permanent or long-term. Consequently most women from Northern Ireland have to travel to England to obtain a private abortion. Unlike other British women, they are not entitled to an abortion on the NHS. We consider that this is an unequal situation which robs women in Northern Ireland of their fundamental rights to a basic healthcare service, leaving them as second-class citizens within the UK, and which cannot be justified.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/ethical-issues/abortion[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]'However', she [Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer] continued, 'We are very disappointed that the Government did not allow MPs to vote on a number of amendments which would have liberalised the law on abortion. Importantly, one amendment would have extended the law to Northern Ireland , giving women the same rights to access free and safe abortions. Control over abortion will now soon be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly - so it seems likely that Northern Irish women will continue to be second class citizens compared with women in the rest of the UK for the foreseeable future.' [/SIZE][/FONT]
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[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/127[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The British Humanist Association supports 'assisted dying':[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]BHA responds to survey of doctors on assisted dying[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today responded to a survey of doctors which found that over a third believe that the law should be reformed to allow assisted dying, and about the same number believe that doctors should be allowed to help their patients die.

Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, said, 'This survey comes at a time when assisted dying is back on the social and political agenda. A third of the doctors surveyed supported a reform in the law to permit assisted dying and that is not an insignificant number - but it does seem rather low compared with over 80% of the public supporting a reform in the law. However, the survey also found that those doctors with strong religious beliefs were more likely to oppose a change in the law than those without strong religious beliefs, perhaps meaning that their own beliefs are coming before the needs of patients and patient choice at end of life.'

Ms Phillips continued, 'Under our present, confused laws around assisted dying, the needs and autonomy of patients are often disregarded. In the past we have campaigned hard against the small but vociferous religious lobby who oppose changing the law to allow, with strict safeguards, those who are suffering to die with dignity at a time of their own choosing. It would be a great shame if the wishes of doctors come above the needs and rights of terminally ill patients, not least if that opposition comes from a largely unshared and dogmatic religious position.'[/SIZE][/FONT]

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[SIZE=2][FONT=Verdana]([/FONT][FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#0068cf]http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/253[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana])[/FONT][/SIZE]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Note: Off Topic replies about candidates from other parties and/or other parties will be reported to the moderators.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[Bobert]

Does this not just proove that Libertas are not a party of religious nutjobs?

[corelli]

Does this not just proove that Libertas are not a party of religious nutjobs?

His language is choice but there is a lot there I would agree with.

His view on abortion conforms with our Supreme Court in the X case judgment.

[Munion]

You don't have to agree with his thoughts but he is perfectly entitled to hold them.

I don't see anything to shocking in what he has said. Your post is very long, maybe you could highlight specific sentences that you find disturbing?

[collinsite81]

The Pope deserves to be abused..... Although i don't agree with all the candidate stands for he is 100% correct in saying we don't need organised religion to decipher right from wrong.

Also euthanasia should be the right of anybody who chooses it. If a person faced with a long battle against cancer at the age of 70 wants to end their life to stop undue suffering to their family of course they should be allowed. Similarly if a quadriplegic of 25 who has been in an horrific road crash cannot face the prospect of being wheel-chair bound for the rest of their life why not let them????

This isn't a new argument, it has been put forward many many times over the last 2,500 years since the time of Plato's Republic. Of course it is as valid today as it was then and although i don't agree with all if any of Plato's views on health care put forward in that great text this is one i firmly believe in.

[Souljacker]

He should've ran in Ireland, a little pope bashing probably wouldn't be a bad thing at the minute. If this is Libertas's official stance I'd expect them to pick up a fair few more votes than they'd have expected.

I didn't read all the way down to the bottom of your post but as an agnostic I found myself agreeing with alot of it. Religion is a business and a very lucrative one at that, from the Catholic church to the $cientology cult.

This guy seems like a very sensible person but sadly even if I had the choice I wouldn't be voting Libertas because I like (and have personally benefited from) an open Europe.

[Demotruk]

Is this supposed to be a bad thing?

[pd_phoenix]

I certainly agree with him in regards to Religion being a business, and while I may not agree with him on abortion it might shut up a couple of people on this site who go on about Libertas being extreme right wing

[TommyO'Brien]

That is just what Ganley needs, in a conservative Catholic constituency like North West!!!

Those comments will kill off Libertas in Catholic countries among older religious voters, people like the Dana voters in North West!

It won't make any difference in Poland, though! Libertas can hardly go into minus numbers, given how long they are already.

[marmurr1916]

That is just what Ganley needs, in a conservative Catholic constituency like North West!!!

Finally, someone gets the point. Fair play TO'B.

Marian Harkin's office was very quick to see that too.