Pope Francis told a group of Italian doctors Friday they must resist the temptation to participate in assisted suicide or euthanasia, which trades the dignity of the patient for a “false compassion.”
“It is important that the doctor does not lose sight of the singularity of each patient, with his dignity and fragility. A man or a woman to accompany with conscience, with intelligence and heart, especially in the most serious situations,” the pope said Sept. 20.
“With this attitude, one can and must reject the temptation – induced also by legislative changes – to use medicine to support a possible desire for death by the patient, providing assistance to suicide or causing death directly with euthanasia.”
Euthanasia or assisted suicide are “hasty paths,” and not an expression of a person’s freedom, as they might seem, he continued, adding that to be asked to help cause the premature death of a patient is a “discarding of the patient” and “false compassion.”
The pope’s audience took place with around 350 members of the Italian National Federation of Orders of Surgical Doctors and Dentists.
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Praise be to God for Pope Francis and his clear teaching addressing assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Dear Papa,
It is a certainty that on all religious matters your word is the Will of Our Creator. I love you and believe you are correct. My only problem is that I cannot walk a mile in the shoes of those so desperate for a sense of total finality because of the horrid health situations on which they find themselves.
I suffer from very severe depression because of an organic disorder. My environment also plays a factor and that I attempt to control. I take my medication as prescribed. If I cannot control overwhelming thoughts of finality without an unhealthy body, how can these people overcome their desire to end it all?
Thoughts are difficult to control and while they are not actions, they eventually steer us away from the Almighty. A smart Catholic therapist suggested that I say “LORD JESUS CHRIST, PLEASE SAVE MY SOUL.” While when I am “emotionally in control” that does work.
But when I am emotionally gone, I have no recourse but to dwell in death mode. If I get lucky and cry, that is a catharsis which leads me to a safe mode. When I am in a goner mode, life doesn’t seem too keen.
I feel for these ailing souls they want a release from their personal hells. I do not believe that our merciful Lord meant for their end of life to be like this. Suffering mentally is not nice. Suffering mentally while your life is hanging on a thread is not the type of existence that My God would want to give these sick people. A double whammy is not the Work of Our Savior.
Believe me that there are people out there who would prefer not to be made into Saints because of their great suffering. Yes, there are those who can quietly give up their sufferings to Our Creator. When you are out in space, it is very difficult to give up one’s sufferings to Heaven. Been there and couldn’t do that. Please pray for the redemption of our souls, especially mine.
I understand Josephine. There have been many times when I have gotten tired of fighting the “good fight”, and have asked God just to take me home and out of the whole mess. I, too, will include you in my rosaries and such. Pray for me also, please
I would like to give you a suggestion. Walking in gentle sunlight around nature, or even in light rain, if one is able, does a lot to cure depression. There is something in sunlight and exercise that affects the endorphins in our bodies and helps keep us happy. I try to say the Rosary while walking around safer areas such as parks or church grounds with security.
Dear Josephine:
just read your post
please know that i promise
to drag my sorry a** before
our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
and pray as hard as i can for one hour
for your intentions