Column distorted Catholic view

Column distorted Catholic view

As a life long Roman Catho- lic, I am pretty accustomed to anti-Catholicism and am a devout believer in our First Amendment rights to the free exercise of religion and free speech, so do not really have much problem with the expressions of anti-Catholicism. I do, however, really mind when those who express their “anti” views are not knowledgeable enough to realize that what they are claiming to be against is not, in fact, a part of the Catholic religion or its institutions.

I am referring to “Death with dignity” by William A. Collins in the March 26 Vindicator. I hardly know where to begin to refute his claims. I downloaded and read the “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” to make sure there had not been substantial changes in Catholic teachings since my admittedly long ago studies in a Catholic college. There had not been.

His most egregious false claim was that your choice to die with dignity in a Catholic hospital will be ignored. The document says, “The free and informed judgment made by a competent adult patient concerning the use or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures should always be respected and complied with, unless it is contrary to Catholic moral teaching” What that means is that nothing should be done or omitted if its primary purpose is the termination of life, that is, euthanasia or assisted suicide. Euthanasia is illegal in the whole United States and is not permitted in any hospitals not just in Catholic hospitals.

Further, the document states, “Medicines capable of alleviating or suppressing pain may be given to a dying person, even if this therapy may indirectly shorten the person’s life so long as the intent is not to hasten death. Again, not just Catholic moral teaching, but law.

I suggest that anyone wishing further information read the actual document and understand how totally false and misleading is Mr. Collins’s assertion that “ The hospital’s mission will be to make sure that you live every last agonizing moment. And your job will be to suffer against your will.”

Catherine Petraglia, East Palestine