The U.S. bishops will debate and vote on a statement that strongly
opposes physician assisted suicide--one of the most controversial topics
in American society.
“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, head of the bishops' pro-life
committee.
“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,” he said.
The bishops will vote on a document on doctor-assisted suicide at
their June 15-17 spring assembly in Seattle.
The statement, “To Live
Each Day with Dignity,” will be the first official stance taken on the
issue by the full body of the U.S. bishops' conference.
A Gallup poll released on May 31 shows Americans are sharply divided
on the topic, with 45 percent finding it permissible versus 48 percent
who believe it is morally wrong.
Cardinal DiNardo warned that increasing cultural acceptance of
doctor-assisted suicide has led to legislative efforts to make the
practice widespread in the U.S.
“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,” he said.
The bishops’ draft statement recognizes the hardships and fears of
patients facing terminal illness, and at the same time counters the
popular claims of the assisted suicide movement that the act affirms
patients’ “choices” and expresses “compassion” for their suffering.
The bishops argue that true compassion eliminates suffering, not the
patient himself, and that medical workers must dedicate themselves to
addressing the patients' needs and affirming their value as human
beings.
The statement also warns that the “compassion” as defined by assisted
suicide advocates is a slippery slope, that will extend to others who
do not have terminal illnesses such as individuals with disabilities.
The bishops also say they are concerned about the practice
undermining patients’ freedom, citing legal systems such as the
Netherlands, where voluntary assisted suicide has led to involuntary
euthanasia in certain instances.
The U.S. bishops also raise the economic interests of those
advocating the legalization of assisted suicide, arguing that the
practice can ultimately become an excuse to save money by denying better
medical care to seriously ill people – even for those who never
considered the option.