Physician-Assisted suicide bill aims to remove abuse “safeguards,” asking Congress to oppose the Equality Act, and promoting justice at the California Catholic Conference in this week’s Insights.
Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Aims to Remove Abuse “Safeguards”
Assisted suicide is already legal in California through the End-of-Life Option Act, which was narrowly passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Brown in 2015. The bill received opposition from both Democrat and Republican legislators but was passed inappropriately during a Special Legislative Session on Medi-Cal funding.
Now, just four and a half years later, Senate Bill 380 proposed by Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), an author of the End of Life Option Act law, attempts to remove many of the purported “safeguards” supporters touted in 2015.
SB 380 effectively removes the 15-day waiting period for patients and loosens the requirements on determining whether a patient is of sound mind during this period.
Ask Congress to Oppose Equality Act
At the center of Catholic social teaching is respect
for the life and dignity of every human. Our nation also cherishes a deep commitment to religious freedom – the right to worship and to practice our faith in the public square according to our conscience and not according to the dictates of government. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) helps define the parameters of these respective rights in the modern world.
As such, the courts have repeatedly held the RFRA and other religious and conscience protections are only applicable when the government is imposing a “substantial” burden on individuals and faith-based institutions.
Sadly, the Equality Act specifically nullifies the RFRA and threatens to punish faith-based health care, schools, charities, and other ministries whose religious beliefs conflict with certain gender-transition services, adoption and foster care programs, emergency shelters for battered spouses, and other services offered openly to the public by the charitable ministries.
Promoting Justice: Working for the California Catholic Conference
by Edward ‘Ned’ Dolejsi, Interim Executive Director
This is the second article in a series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the California Catholic Conference.
After more than two decades as executive director of the California Catholic Conference, I thank God for the privilege of allowing me to play a part in bringing Catholic values to the public square.
These values were summarized beautifully by Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est: “A just society must be the achievement of politics, not of the Church. Yet the promotion of justice through efforts to bring about openness of mind and will to the demands of the common good is something which concerns the church deeply.”
As John Paul II, Benedict and, now Francis have told us, Catholics are called to be a political voice for the common good and the infinite worth of every human being – especially those who are poor, struggling or marginalized.
That is the mission of the laity. Bishops offer moral guidance and prayerful support, but the laity take the lead.
In the News
Americans’ mental health needs grow dramatically amid pandemic
The annual Gallup health care survey in November revealed that Americans’ assessment of their mental health is at its lowest point since 2001 — with 76 % of respondents rating their mental health as good or excellent, down from 85 % in 2019. Nationwide, Catholic Charities clinicians report higher numbers of people reaching out for help across all age groups.
Consolidated Vaccine Information
The CCC has consolidated COVID-19 Vaccine information including statements from bishops and public health guidelines in one easy-to-navigate page on its website. Click here for more on the importance of getting vaccinated.
La Posada – The urban farm workers among us
CatholicCharitiesUSA.org – Somewhere between glitz, glamour and coastal charm, North County San Diego farm workers are walking along highways, camping in fields, and clinging to dwindling jobs.
The Holy Spirit writes the history of the Church and of the world. We are open books, willing to receive his handwriting. And in each of us the Spirit composes original works, because there is never one Christian who is completely identical to another. #GeneralAudience
@Pontifex
March 19, 2021
Vol. 13, No. 11