Cardinal urges opposition to assisted suicide
September 19, 2011
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston is urging Catholics to opposition a ballot initiative that would legalize assisted suicide in Massachusetts.
“We hope the citizens of the Commonwealth will not be seduced by language [such as ] dignity and compassion, which are means to disguise the sheer brutality of helping people to kill themselves,” he preached at a September 18 Red Mass. “Allowing physicians to prescribe the means for their patients to kill themselves is a corruption of the medical profession. It even violates the Hippocratic Oath, that has guided physicians for thousands of years.”
“We as a society will be judged on how we respond . . . to those who believe their lives have diminished in value,” he added. “Most people, regardless of their [religious beliefs] know that suicide is a tragedy, one that a compassionate society should work to prevent.”
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Further information:
- Cardinal rips suicide ballot effort (Boston Globe)
- Catholic Bishops Oppose "Death with Dignity" Initiative Petition (Massachusetts Catholic Conference)
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Posted by: frjpharrington3912 -
Sep. 19, 2011 11:48 PM ET USA
George Orwell, author of the "dystopian" novel 1984, would agree I'm sure that "Death with Dignity" is an expression of "doublethink"; the act of simultaneously accepting two mutually contradictory ideas. That human life is a precious gift endowed with inalienable rights speaks of its inherent dignity, nobility and worthiness. That which is precious, noble and worthy evokes our respect and honor and calls us to offer our support, care and compasssion, to preserve not to kill and desrtoy.
