Massachusetts: Different Faiths Have Different Takes On Assisted Suicide

Interesting take on the upcoming Massachusetts ballot initiative seeking to legalize assisted suicide.

In faiths, a split on assisted suicide

The state’s religious communities are divided over what is perhaps the most profound question on this year’s ballot: Should people nearing the end of terminal illnesses be allowed to obtain a prescription drug to end their lives?

The largest religious force in Massachusetts, the Roman Catholic Church, has come out squarely against the referendum, as have other prominent faith voices. A handful of smaller denominations support the measure known as Question 2. more

Euthanasia And Beliefs

I don’t often link to letters to he editor, but this one makes a very cogent case against the culture of death.

Legal euthanasia kills justice for all

As the spokesperson of a Catholic bioethics centre, there are some who discount my message because of my religious affiliation, rather than on the basis of its merits. It's a classic case of "playing the man instead of the ball". As two commentators noted in response to comments I recently made about the dangers of legalising euthanasia: "I am sick of the religious trying to force their narrow views on society.

"Dictate what you like to your own flock, stay the hell out of the affairs of people who want nothing to do with your beliefs."

The point being made by these commentators is that religion should have nothing to do with the debate about euthanasia. more

What Do Different Religions Think Of The Culture Of Death?

This isn’t an in-depth examination of how different religions consider assisted suicide and euthanasia, but it’s informative nevertheless.

Ask the Religion Experts: What is your faith's view on euthanasia?

Rev. KEVIN FLYNN is an Anglican priest and director of the Anglican studies program at Saint Paul University.

Much depends on what is meant by the term “euthanasia.” Anglicans actively support the best of palliative care to relieve the suffering of the terminally ill. For example, the late Dame Cicely Saunders was a pioneer in Britain of the palliative care hospice movement, work whose influence has spread world wide. This work combines pain and symptom relief with comprehensive care for the psychological, spiritual, physical, and social needs of patients and their families. more

How Other Religions See Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia

Here's a very interesting piece giving a brief sketch about how assisted suicide and euthanasia are considered by other religions than Christianity, Islam, & Judaism.

Goodbye, cruel world

The debate surrounding assisted suicides may be new but the idea of euthanasia, mercy killing or assisted suicide has been accepted in various cultures for centuries. Throughout antiquity there existed large support for voluntary death, with physicians providing long-suffering patients with the poisons they needed. This changed after the Middle Ages and with the rise of Christianity, and from then on, no organised religion supports the idea of euthanasia or assisted suicide. more

Pro-Deathers Begin To Infiltrate Churches

The pro-deathers continue to seep into every single place they can with their message of a happy death. It’s not surprising, therefore, that they have begun to infiltrate organized religion to co-opt churches and their members to their will. They’ve already started doing this in the hospice movement.

Speakers at CHA workshop assess tactics of assisted suicide proponents

DENVER (CNS) -- Proponents of assisted suicide are using the U.S. church's own revised ethical directives as "propaganda to promote" their cause, a physician and Franciscan brother told a workshop at the Catholic Health Association convention June 14.

Compassion & Choices, a national organization created from the merger of the former Hemlock Society and Compassion in Dying in 2005, is telling people that the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services" now require that "everyone will have a feeding tube rammed down their throat" at Catholic health facilities, said Franciscan Brother Daniel P. Sulmasy. more

We Need To Oppose Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia Strategically, Not Emotionally

There are many things that divide those of us who oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia. Religion, or lack thereof, is one. There are some faith-based groups who wouldn’t be seen dead within 100 miles of hard-lefties on these issues, and certainly vice-versa. So, imagine what might happen if we came across those in Islam who stand on our side!! We all have to decide how to move strategically rather than emotionally, and, for all of us, that might be quite a challenge.

Euthanasia and Islam

. . . First, Muslim scholars insist that suicide is strongly abhorred and outlawed in Islam, that its punishment is eternal hell, and that one who commits it will be denied proper funeral service. (One finds no discussion on the possible reasons for a suicide; it is all rejected across the board.) more