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Published On: Tue, May 24th, 2016

Bishop Salvatore Matano attacks assisted suicide efforts in New York, ‘path toward self-destruction’

A New York Catholic bishop has denounced current efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide in the state, calling it a “path toward self-destruction.” Euthanasia and controversial “assisted suicides” across Europe has raised ethical questions now coming to America.

“When we subjectively determine when life begins and ends, when it is viable or not, or when it is too burdensome to endure, we begin a path toward self-destruction,” said Rochester Bishop Salvatore Matano. “Life is no longer precious, but just another commodity in the business of living. Relativism becomes the absolute, and even the value of life itself is questioned.”

Matano went on, explaining that  the Catholic Church cares very much for the vulnerable members of society, appreciating the worth of each human person, especially in the most difficult times. He add that this is not just a Catholic position, though, the bishop said, “it is a human rights imperative.”

Jack Kevorkian started to popularize the assisted suicide movement photo Gevorg Gevorgyan

Jack Kevorkian started to popularize the assisted suicide movement photo Gevorg Gevorgyan

Bishop Matano, decried “euphemistically titled” bills currently before the New York State Legislature seeking to legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

“The value of persons who are gravely ill and/or at the end of their lives is currently being questioned and their very lives threatened by a growing movement in our society to end life prematurely.”

Efforts to pass physician-assisted suicide in New York have been ongoing, and lawmakers introduced physician-assisted suicide legislation in the last two weeks. An appeals court had ruled the week before that there was no fundamental right to assisted suicide in the state.

Bishop Matano’s March statement against legalizing physician-assisted suicide, picked up this week by ChurchMillitant.com, urged the state’s legislators to reject the push, “for it will inevitably put tremendous pressure on our most vulnerable citizens to end their lives.”

“In an era of health care rationing and cost-cutting, assisted suicide could easily rise to the level of the most acceptable, inexpensive, and even expected ‘treatment’ for terminal illness,” he said further, recalling the warning presented in results of the 1994 New York State Task Force on Life and the Law. “We owe our brothers and sisters in the human family so much more.”

“But intentional euthanasia, the willful and conscious act of putting to death those who are sick, are disabled, or are dying, is morally unacceptable and a tragic offense against life!”

 

Bishop Matano also opposed assisted suicide while bishop in Vermont, saying in a statement of its 2013 legalization there, “Vermont is now identified as one of the few Death States, where it is legal for life to be terminated both at its beginning and end stages; a State that so rightly opposes the death penalty and the tragedies of war now sends a confusing and conflicting message that undermines its stand for life.”

 

photo/Alyssa L. Miller creative commons via Flickr

photo/Alyssa L. Miller creative commons via Flickr

 

 

 

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About the Author

- Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at theglobaldispatch@gmail ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco

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