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To: Priests, deacons, parish communicators and chancery staff and clergy
From: Joey Martineck, director, Respect Life Ministry
Dear Priests, deacons and church leaders,
A few weeks ago, the state of Oregon removed the residency requirement for physician-assisted suicide. See the following statement from the Catholic Medical Association.
Physician-assisted suicide is legal in ten states plus DC. It is currently illegal in Georgia, but now Georgia residents who desire physician-assisted suicide can obtain it by visiting Oregon.
Worse yet, Vermont recently amended their assisted suicide law to allow for telemedicine. The same amendment will likely happen with Oregon soon (just as Vermont could also remove their residency requirement soon). This combination could make physician-assisted suicide possible for anyone in the country via mail order. See more information from Patients Rights Council here.
This strategy to advance the culture of death is cunning, demonstrating how “the sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8). While removal of Oregon’s residency requirement has happened quietly, we must not be complacent. One way to respond is to make plans to bring the End of Life Workshop to your parish on November 12th (see earlier memo).
St. Joseph, terror of demons, patron of a happy death, pray for us.
