A number of leading Catholic voices in New York have spoken out against assisted suicide and euthanasia following the state legislature’s passage of a bill that would legalize ‘assisted dying’ (or medicalized killing) in the state.
The bill still awaits the signature of Governor Kathy Hochul, who has not indicated whether or not she plans to sign it.
Key Takeaways:
- Cardinal Timothy Dolan recently spoke against assisted suicide while indicating his hope that Governor Kathy Hochul will veto the bill.
- He joins the New York Catholic Conference is speaking out against suicide legislation.
- Hochul has not yet indicated what stance she takes in regards to assisted suicide.
The Details:
Cardinal Dolan addressed the legislation on his podcast, “Conversations with Cardinal Dolan,” on June 17.
“This is the cheapening of human life,” he said. He also recounted speaking with Hochul about strengthening anti-suicide efforts in the state. Dolan said he believes Hochul may be wrestling with the idea of signing the bill.
“Suicide is an effect when somebody’s struggling emotionally as well as physically,” Dolan recalled telling her. “That’s when people are so desperate and we have to help their mental health so that they don’t go for suicide — that’s why we don’t want the physician-assisted suicide.”
“She didn’t commit herself, but something tells me her gut’s not into this,” he continued. “I’m hoping she’ll take the courageous, right thing to do.”
On May 29, Cardinal Dolan wrote a piece for The Wall Street Journal in which he highlighted the disparity between the efforts of lawmakers to reduce suicides, while at the same time legalizing physician-assisted suicide:
… I am more than puzzled, I am stunned, when I read that New York lawmakers are on the verge of legalizing suicide — not by leaping from a bridge but via a poison cocktail easily provided by physicians and pharmacists. I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief at the disparity in official responses.
Our government will marshal all its resources to save the life of one hopeless and despondent man. Yet it may conclude that some lives aren’t worth living — perhaps due to a serious illness or disability — and we will hand those despondent women and men a proverbial loaded gun and tell them to have at it.
Dolan’s voice joins a number of other leading Catholics in the state who are urging Hochul to veto the bill.
Dennis Poust, the executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, warns that the bill’s lack of patient safeguards makes it the worst assisted suicide legislation in the nation.
“You could get a terminal diagnosis from your doctor. You’ll be grief-stricken, you’ll be in despair, and you could at that moment request assisted suicide drugs from that doctor and then from a subsequent doctor next door,” Poust told EWTN News Nightly on June 13.
“The next day, you could be ending your life,” he said. “It’s egregious.”
The Back Story:
New York lawmakers passed S138, which would legalize assisted suicide, on June 9.
In order to qualify for assisted suicide under the bill, a person would have to have a terminal diagnosis of six months or less to live.
Hochul, a Catholic Democrat, has said she will review the legislation but has not indicated if she will sign it.
The Bottom Line:
If passed, New York would join 11 other states plus D.C. in legalizing ‘assisted death.’ However, there is fear that if the state legalizes it, this will provide the impetus for many other states to follow suit.
