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The bishop of Rockford, Illinois, reiterated Catholic teaching and spoke of the importance of palliative care for those who are nearing the end of their lives, as the state legislature once again considers a bill legalizing assisted suicide.
The Diocese of Rockford consists of 11 counties in northern Illinois. About a quarter of its population is Catholic.
Presently, the Illinois legislature is considering two identical bills – Senate Bill 9 (SB) and House Bill 1328 (HB 1328) – Bishop Malloy said in a March 12 letter to the diocese. He encouraged Catholics to reach out to their representatives to protest these bills.
The bills would legalize assisted suicide in the state of Illinois, making "it legal for a physician to prescribe an array of lethal drugs to a person diagnosed with a terminal disease who requests to end his or her life,” he said.
Those who are in favor of the legislation say that it will “end suffering at the end of life,” something which Malloy disagrees with.
“Our Catholic faith strongly believes that no one should needlessly suffer or have to watch a loved one experience unnecessary pain and suffering,” he said.
Malloy continued, “Our hospitals, and indeed our whole history of Catholic health care give witness to our compassion for those who are suffering, and for their loved ones. In this way we show our love and respect for the gift of human life and the dignity even of those who are ill or suffering.”
Suicide is not compassionate
Modern medical techniques have nullified this argument for assisted suicide, said Malloy.
“There are now effective ways to make a person more comfortable at the end of life through palliative care,” he said.
“This relatively new specialty utilizes physician-led teams to care for the whole person – physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually – to relieve the symptoms and the stress that often accompany serious illness and side effects of treatment,” he said.
Instead of suicide, Malloy instead believes there should be “palliative care, expanded access to mental health care, and stronger family and community support” for those who are terminally ill.
Assisted suicide, said Malloy, is a “false charity” regardless of its intent.
"Alarming consequences"
“It brings with it many alarming consequences that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to reject,” he said.
Malloy cited examples of insurance companies refusing to pay for the care of the terminally ill, while they would pay for the “small cost of the drugs resulting in the end of life.”
Additionally, said the bishop, the legalization of assisted suicide is particularly dangerous for the disabled and impoverished.
“Every major national organization that represents people with disabilities is opposed to assisted suicide. Experience shows that it is especially the poor and those with disabilities who are particularly in jeopardy as they are the most vulnerable to such abuses,” he said.
“There is no way to prevent the vulnerable from being coerced or intimidated to end their lives once this assisted suicide is legal.”
