Catholic bishops in Virginia are elevating the alarm about proposed laws within the commonwealth that will legalize assisted suicide.
Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond printed a letter Monday urging Virginians to succeed in out to politicians and voice opposition to the state’s Senate Bill 280.
“We are alarmed and deeply saddened by this development. Human life is sacred and must never be abandoned or discarded. At this critical moment, we implore the faithful across our two dioceses: Please contact your state Senator and Delegate. Urge them to reject assisted suicide legislation, using the alert provided by the Virginia Catholic Conference.”
Senate Bill 280, often called the “Death with Dignity” invoice, would enable “an adult diagnosed with a terminal condition to request an attending health care provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient’s life in a humane and dignified manner.”
CANADA HALTS ASSISTED SUICIDE PROGRAM FOR MENTALLY ILL DUE TO LACK OF DOCTORS
The invoice would require sufferers wishing to finish their lives to verbally request the killing process twice and submit a written request with their signature and that of a witness.
Senate Bill 280 has been moved to the Virginia state senate for a future vote.
MINNESOTA CONSIDERS EXPANDING ASSISTED SUICIDE ACCESS, BUT CRITICS CALL IT ANYTHING BUT ‘COMPASSIONATE’
READ THE BISHOPS’ STATEMENT – APP USERS, CLICK HERE:
“Every suicide is a tragedy. Assisted suicide facilitates tragedies and makes the most vulnerable even more vulnerable,” the bishops wrote within the letter. “Legalizing it would place the lives of people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, the elderly, and those unable to afford healthcare – among others – at heightened risk of deadly harm.”
Medically assisted suicide is at present authorized in 10 states and the District of Columbia.
It is at present authorized in Maine, New Jersey, Hawaii, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“People facing the end of life are in great need, and must be accompanied with great care and attentiveness,” the bishops wrote. “To address each of their needs and alleviate their suffering, patients deserve high quality medical, palliative, and hospice care – not suicide drugs.”
The Catholic Church is against any process that prematurely ends a human life — from abortion to assisted suicide — exterior very slim exceptions.