Cardinal Dolan: New York suicide bill a ‘terrible idea,’ turns doctors into killers

[Michie]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen” after the state Assembly advanced the measure last week.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Dolan — the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York — said: “For people of faith who believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, the very idea of having a doctor give you a prescription to end your life prematurely is contrary to everything we cherish.”

“But one need not be religious to see that assisted suicide is a terrible idea. It is a classic Pandora’s box; once opened, its consequences cannot be contained.”

The New York State Assembly passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York on April 29 in an 81–67 vote. If passed into law, the legislation will allow terminally ill adults to request medication to end their own lives.

Continued below.

Cardinal Dolan: New York suicide bill a ‘terrible idea’

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen” after the state Assembly advanced the measure last week.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Dolan — the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York — said: “For people of faith who believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, the very idea of having a doctor give you a prescription to end your life prematurely is contrary to everything we cherish.”

“But one need not be religious to see that assisted suicide is a terrible idea. It is a classic Pandora’s box; once opened, its consequences cannot be contained.”

The New York State Assembly passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York on April 29 in an 81–67 vote. If passed into law, the legislation will allow terminally ill adults to request medication to end their own lives.

Continued below.

Cardinal Dolan: New York suicide bill a ‘terrible idea’

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

In a leftist utopia, people only have value if they can contribute to society. Unfortunately, unborn babies and terminal ill patients do not fit that category.

 

[FireDragon76]

As a Protestant, I see it as a complicated issue. I tend to err on the side of not criminalizing people who are trying to alleviate suffering, even if I don't agree with peoples choices.

In a leftist utopia, people only have value if they can contribute to society. Unfortunately, unborn babies and terminal ill patients do not fit that category.

I think this kind of rhetoric obscures the issue.

And I can speak with some degree of personal investment in the issue as I live with multiple disabilities, as does my S.O. Banning euthanasia is a dubious way to address ableism in society.

 

[RileyG]

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen” after the state Assembly advanced the measure last week.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Dolan — the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York — said: “For people of faith who believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, the very idea of having a doctor give you a prescription to end your life prematurely is contrary to everything we cherish.”

“But one need not be religious to see that assisted suicide is a terrible idea. It is a classic Pandora’s box; once opened, its consequences cannot be contained.”

The New York State Assembly passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York on April 29 in an 81–67 vote. If passed into law, the legislation will allow terminally ill adults to request medication to end their own lives.

Continued below.

Cardinal Dolan: New York suicide bill a ‘terrible idea’

Cardinal Timothy Dolan this week called New York legislation aiming to legalize medical assisted suicide “a disaster waiting to happen.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Thank you, your eminence.

 

[Tuur]

Not many want to remember it now, but eugenics was once popular in the US. No less than US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes, Jr, was a supporter, and IIRC, once expressed his desire that those who opposed eugenics would have it applied to them. And who opposed eugenics? The Roman Catholics, for one. A century later, we know that opponents to eugenics were right.

What will those a century from now think of the move toward euthanasia?

 

[FireDragon76]

Not many want to remember it now, but eugenics was once popular in the US. No less than US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes, Jr, was a supporter, and IIRC, once expressed his desire that those who opposed eugenics would have it applied to them. And who opposed eugenics? The Roman Catholics, for one. A century later, we know that opponents to eugenics were right.

The primary reason eugenics fell out of favor was because later research demonstrated that hereditability of traits was alot more complicated than had been understood, and that environment was typically far more important in shaping whether or not someone was healthy. Catholic opposition to eugenics at the time was not a major factor.

In addition, there were Protestant and Jewish clergy that did object to the discrimination and coercion that were often part of eugenics as an ideology.

 

[Tuur]

The primary reason eugenics fell out of favor was because later research demonstrated that hereditability of traits was alot more complicated than had been understood, and that environment was typically far more important in shaping whether or not someone was healthy. Catholic opposition to eugenics at the time was not a major factor.

In addition, there were Protestant and Jewish clergy that did object to the discrimination and coercion that were often part of eugenics as an ideology.

The primary reason it fell out of favor was because of what went down in Germany. Nobody listens to Christians.

The point is that Western society was all agog about eugenics and thought those who opposed it were terribly regressive. History has shown eugenics wasn't a very good idea. And now Western society is all agog about euthanasia. I'm waiting for supporters to declare that those who oppose it are terribly regressive.