“Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator…Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted...Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, points 2277-2279* * *
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"Some years ago, the winner of a Pro-Life Essay Contest sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York was Anne Marie O'Halloran, from Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale. Her topic was euthanasia. Let me share with you some of her own words:
"One of the highest values this country holds is freedom. This has led to a situation in which individuals believe they have the right to live completely as they desire. Human beings are seen as limitless. They have the right to decide how they want to live and how they should die....Another quality prized by our culture is power. We believe, or rather, we would like to believe, that we can control anything and everything to ensure a safe and comfortable lifestyle....Our society has created a world in which it is always possible and always considered right to take the easy way out of problems, suffering and death. That way is completely against the example Jesus set for us; it is against Christian values. We, as Christians, must form a counter-culture. We do not pray for an easy, free or painless life and death. Rather we should pray for strength to sustain and understand the life God gave us to live."May more young men and women come to see what this student sees and says so well, that we are NOT the absolute masters of life and death. Only God is. May His gift of life be respected."
~Father Frank A. Pavone, Director of Priests for Life [used 7/4/2010]
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"Euthanasia or deliberately taking of the life of someone who is sick, dying, disabled or mentally ill is morally unacceptable. The Church calls for the ordinary care owed to a sick person, but medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous or extraordinary are not necessary. If you are unsure about the moral implications of health care procedures that are being proposed for someone you love, contact your pastor of the archdiocese’s Respect Life Apostolate. They will be happy to help you consider approaches that are in accordance with our Church’s teaching about care for those who are sick or dying."
~ Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, July 6, 2010 column in St. Louis Review [used 9-19-2010]
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"Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.
Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.
Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted.” ~ CCC 2277-2279
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It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action. For it is a question of the violation of the divine law, an offense against the dignity of the human person, a crime against life, and an attack on humanity.
It may happen that, by reason of prolonged and barely tolerable pain, for deeply personal or other reasons, people may be led to believe that they can legitimately ask for death or obtain it for others. Although in these cases the guilt of the individual may be reduced or completely absent, nevertheless the error of judgment into which the conscience falls, perhaps in good faith, does not change the nature of this act of killing, which will always be in itself something to be rejected. The pleas of gravely ill people who sometimes ask for death are not to be understood as implying a true desire for euthanasia; in fact, it is almost always a case of an anguished plea for help and love. What a sick person needs, besides medical care, is love, the human and supernatural warmth with which the sick person can and ought to be surrounded by all those close to him or her, parents and children, doctors and nurses. CDF Declaration on Euthanasia – Approved by Blessed John Paul II - May 5, 1980
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“After years of relative inaction following legalization of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon in 1994, the assisted suicide movement has shown a strong resurgence in activity,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “This renewed effort has led to the passage of an Oregon-style law in Washington by popular referendum in November 2008, a state supreme court decision essentially declaring that assisted suicide is not against public policy in Montana, and concerted efforts to pass legislation in several New England and Western states. The Church needs to respond in a timely and visible way to this renewed challenge, which will surely be pursued in a number of states in the years to come.” http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-115.shtml
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“More and more lonely elderly people exist in big cities, even in situations of serious illness and close to death. In such situations, the pressure of euthanasia is felt, especially when a utilitarian vision of the person creeps in. In this regard, I take this opportunity to reaffirm once again the firm and constant ethical condemnation of every form of direct euthanasia, in accordance with the Church's centuries-old teaching “ http://www.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/popebquotes2008.shtml
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“Euthanasia and assisted suicide can appear a reasonable and even compassionate solution to the suffering of individuals and families struggling with illness or the dying process. Yet these are not real solutions – they do not solve human problems, but only take the lives of those most in need of unconditional love.”
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/pastoralplan.shtml#ii
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Our Bishops new statement on assisted suicide is particularly relevant the Church in Oregon, and make direct reference to our state’s laws. The short statement can be read here: http://www.usccb.org/toliveeachday/ . It often quotes Blessed John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical, Evangelium Vitae. In paragraph 66 of this Encyclical, Bl. John Paul says:
“To concur with the intention of another person to commit suicide and to help in carrying it out through so-called "assisted suicide" means to cooperate in, and at times to be the actual perpetrator of, an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested. In a remarkably relevant passage Saint Augustine writes that "it is never licit to kill another: even if he should wish it, indeed if he request it because, hanging between life and death, he begs for help in freeing the soul struggling against the bonds of the body and longing to be released; nor is it licit even when a sick person is no longer able to live". Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing "perversion" of mercy. True "compassion" leads to sharing another's pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear. Moreover, the act of euthanasia appears all the more perverse if it is carried out by those, like relatives, who are supposed to treat a family member with patience and love, or by those, such as doctors, who by virtue of their specific profession are supposed to care for the sick person even in the most painful terminal stages.” Evangelium Vitae, 66 http://www.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/evangel/evangeli.shtml
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“We need to resist the euthanasia movement in our day. At the same time, we need to rededicate ourselves to building a culture of truth and mercy. We need to help our brothers and sisters who are sick and afraid—beginning with those in our own families. With modern palliative treatments we can alleviate the pain they feel. We need to reassure them that we will be there for them spiritually and emotionally too. We need to send a signal to every one in our society. That this is a society that values every individual. That there will always be someone there to love them and care for them—even when they are no longer able to take care of themselves.”
To Live Each Day With Dignity – Archbishop José Gomez – July 14, 2011
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/07/to-live-each-day-with-dignity
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Death with Dignity?
“Here in Oregon many of our fellow citizens, sad to say, have been deluded into confronting the dying process in a manner unworthy of our human dignity...... there seems to be a real misunderstanding of what true compassion is all about. The root meaning of the word means that we are willing to “suffer with” another person. True compassion lightens the burdens of those who suffer while maintain[ing] solidarity with them. It doesn’t put lethal drugs in their hands and abandon them to their suicidal impulses....... The better way to deal with the problem is what Pope John Paul II called “the way of love and true mercy.” This includes a readiness on the part of all to support patients with our love and companionship, providing them the help they need to ease their physical, emotional and spiritual suffering….. Effective palliative care can help patients devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones and even with themselves....... We Catholic people need to be the messengers of the Gospel of Life. It is our responsibility to defend and uphold the principle that all people have a right to live with dignity through every day of their lives…. It is the prayer of our Catholic community that our desire to help others will be heightened when they find themselves at death’s door and that together we can continue to work for the re-founding of a society in which love is truly stronger than death.”
Excerpts from Archbishop John Vlazny’s 7/14/2011 column: “Death With Dignity?”
http://www.catholicsentinel.org
“Here in Oregon many of our fellow citizens, sad to say, have been deluded into confronting the dying process in a manner unworthy of our human dignity...... there seems to be a real misunderstanding of what true compassion is all about. The root meaning of the word means that we are willing to “suffer with” another person. True compassion lightens the burdens of those who suffer while maintain[ing] solidarity with them. It doesn’t put lethal drugs in their hands and abandon them to their suicidal impulses....... The better way to deal with the problem is what Pope John Paul II called “the way of love and true mercy.” This includes a readiness on the part of all to support patients with our love and companionship, providing them the help they need to ease their physical, emotional and spiritual suffering….. Effective palliative care can help patients devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones and even with themselves....... We Catholic people need to be the messengers of the Gospel of Life. It is our responsibility to defend and uphold the principle that all people have a right to live with dignity through every day of their lives…. It is the prayer of our Catholic community that our desire to help others will be heightened when they find themselves at death’s door and that together we can continue to work for the re-founding of a society in which love is truly stronger than death.”
Excerpts from Archbishop John Vlazny’s 7/14/2011 column: “Death With Dignity?”
http://www.catholicsentinel.org
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