Bishop Salvatore R. Matano is inviting Catholics of the Diocese of Rochester to join a letter-writing campaign urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to veto legislation that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in New York.
During the weekend of Nov. 15-16, parishes will provide pre-written letters for people to take, sign and mail to Albany, according to Elizabeth Johnston, coordinator of life issues for the diocese. The letter also is available at liferoc.org.
“The rejection of physician-assisted suicide is not solely a Catholic position; rather it is a human rights imperative,” Bishop Matano said in an email to the Catholic Courier. “I ask the faithful, and all people of good will, to write to Governor Hochul and strongly urge her to veto this bill which would legalize physician-assisted suicide in our State of New York.”
Assisted-suicide bill will soon arrive on Gov. Hochul’s desk
The Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138/A.136) passed in the state Assembly April 29 and in the state Senate June 9.
Since the bill hasn’t yet reached Gov. Hochul’s desk, Johnston said New York’s Catholic bishops view this as the perfect moment to “shower the governor with letters.”
The bishops said active and united voices of concerned Catholics are needed to combat heavily funded lobbying efforts in support of legalizing assisted suicide, Johnston said. As such, the Rochester Diocese joins the Archdiocese of New York and the state’s six other dioceses in the letter-writing campaign, she noted.
Palliative care over suicide
A letter template created by the New York State Catholic Conference was edited by Bishop Matano for use in the Diocese of Rochester. The letter emphasizes key reasons for the governor to veto the bill, Johnston said.
“All New Yorkers must know their lives are valued. Sanctioning suicide sends the wrong message, particularly to young people, who already are in the midst of an unprecedented mental health crisis,” the letter states.
The letter also warns that, over time, states and countries that have legalized physician-assisted suicide for terminal illnesses gradually extend the authorization for chronic and mental illnesses. In addition, the letter notes that disability-rights groups oppose the legislation because “they know it will create pressure on people to end their lives if they don’t have full bodily autonomy.”
Finally, the letter calls for attention and resources to be dedicated to palliative care and pain-management therapies to alleviates pain while honoring physician integrity as well as “patients’ trust in those who have given their lives to heal and to ‘do no harm.’”
