Perhaps the loss of respect for what you call "the truly living" can be found in the coarsening of society's attitude toward the value of all life starting with unborn babies.
Hell, it isn't useful for anything so just let it die or, better yet, kill it.
MSNBC had a segment on the Rachel Maddow show last night listing all of the threats to abortion rights. The biggest threat is from a new legal tactic by the states that forces abortion clinics to abide by the same standards as other clinics and free standing hospitals that perform surgical/medical procedures. It is very expensive to do this and all of the abortion clinics are whining and complaining about it.
Another state action they viewed as outrageous was outlawing abortions after 20 weeks. Is that really something abortion supporters want to defend...elective abortions on fetuses after 20 weeks?