Solidarity is the solution to assisted suicide, California bishops say

Last updated on: January 7, 2016 at 9:19 am by CNA Daily News

Solidarity is the solution to assisted suicide, California bishops say 2016-01-07T09:19:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sacramento, Calif., Jan 7, 2016 / 02:19 am (CNA/EWTN News).- California’s Catholic bishops rallied opponents of the state’s assisted suicide law on Tuesday to continue their efforts to correct lawmakers’ “grave mistake.” Though opponents failed to collect enough signatures for a state referendum, the bishops encouraged further work to defend the vulnerable.

The petition drive seeking to overturn the bill showed a strong commitment to protecting life “at all its stages,” Sacramento’s Bishop Jaime Soto, president of the California Catholic Conference, said Jan. 5. He said tens of thousands of Californians were “demanding the right to have a public voice in one of the most dangerous public policies ever enacted in California.”

“Physician-assisted suicide is one of the many ways our society is gradually placing individual autonomy as the ultimate measure of public policies,” the bishop continued. “This is a grave mistake and a trend that we as Catholics must consistently and firmly question.”

He cited Pope Francis’ criticism of ideologies that weaken social bonds and fuel a “throwaway” mentality that “leads to contempt for, and the abandonment of, the weakest and those considered ‘useless’.”

On Oct. 5, 2015 Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law an assisted suicide bill that enabled doctors to prescribe drugs that will end the lives of patients whom doctors diagnose as having six months to live. The bill had been withdrawn from the State Senate but was revived in a special legislative session. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 23-14, while the State Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 42-33.

Bishop Soto said that assisted suicide opponents’ efforts during the regular session had stopped the advance of the bill.

“It was only through the manipulation of the legislative process that the bill eventually passed,” he said. “The initial defeat of the law – as well as the thousands of signatures gathered in the referendum effort – demonstrate that when the dangers of physician-assisted suicide are allowed to be properly aired, the concept is soundly rejected.”

“Advocates for the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged, physicians and other health care providers as well as many others understand the long-term menace of this law,” the bishop added.

He said the Catholic bishops would continue to work with the anti-assisted suicide coalition and with others “to explore ways of protecting the most vulnerable Californians from the pressure created by this new policy.”

California bishops are committed to explaining “the richness and love” of Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues, the bishop said.

“As Christians, we are morally and ethically committed to promoting solidarity at all stages of life. We will continue to question this misguided libertarian push to make personal autonomy the ultimate arbitrator. We must help each other.”

Previous Post

January 7, 2016

Religious freedom group condemns Saudi Arabia's execution of Shi'a cleric

Next Post

January 7, 2016 Executions in the US are falling dramatically. Why?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Matthew" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Wisdom Faithful Gift of God Beloved