Fr. Shenan J. Boquet: Our Duty to Serve Human Dignity

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International, December 2, 2024

Human Life International is a Catholic, pro-life non-profit. Through us, pro-lifers like you sponsor life-saving missions in over 100 countries. We also work hard to make sure you have the truth about life and family issues at your fingertips.

Euthanasia is an action or omission that of itself or by intention causes death in order to alleviate suffering. Catholic health care institutions may never condone or participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide in any way. Dying patients who request euthanasia should receive loving care, psychological and spiritual support, and appropriate remedies for pain and other symptoms so that they can live with dignity until the time of natural death.

– Ethical and Religious Directives of Catholic Health Care, no. 60

Usually, when medically assisted suicide has been on a state ballot initiative, it’s to legalize the practice. But this year on November 5, West Virginians approved Amendment 1. This amendment established a constitutional ban on physician-assisted suicides in the state, making it clear that “no person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.”

Assisted suicide is already illegal in West Virginia. But approval of the constitutional amendment now makes it substantially harder for proponents to launch an effort to legalize it. If state lawmakers in the future want to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, they will have to go through the process of amending the state constitution again, requiring two-thirds of both the West Virginia House and Senate to agree to put it forward before voters. Simply put, this constitutional amendment effectively prevents euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation from coming into the state, protecting the sacredness of human life. …

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