March 8 - "End of Life Options"

On Friday, February 28, 2020, I went to Annapolis to testify against the “End of Life Options Act” (Senate Bill 701/House of Delegates Bill 643).  Two weeks before that date I had sent out a Flocknote to those who have signed up to receive Flocknotes from St. Francis of Assisi Parish.  When a couple of people encouraged me to use what I had written as a basis for testifying in opposition to the legislation, I prayed about it.  After praying and coming to the conclusion that I should offer to do this, I contacted the appropriate officials at the Archdiocese of Washington to gain their permission for me do this.  A few days after my initial contact I received the encouragement to testify from the appropriate officials of the Archdiocese who then referred me to the Maryland Catholic Conference.  Once the Conference had an opportunity to review what I was proposing to say in my testimony, they referred me to Maryland Against Physician-Assisted Suicide. As they say, the rest is history!  My testimony against the “End of Life Options Act” (SB 701/HB 643) has now been posted on our parish website (www.sfadw.org) for anyone who wishes to read it.
 
The website for Maryland Against Physician-Assisted Suicide includes these facts that I did not put into my testimony:
 
· There are documented cases of people being denied insurance coverage of life-saving treatments in favor of cheaper, life-ending drugs.
· In states where this dangerous practice is legal, overall suicide rates are on the rise.
· Proponents of assisted suicide falsely claim that no one has ever been harmed by assisted suicide and that making physician-assisted suicide an “option” makes end-of-life care better.  We know that is not true.
 
Some of the most compelling testimony against the “End of Life Options Act” came from physicians opposed to the act who spoke on these three points.  For the fifth time in six years, out-of-state groups are pushing the Maryland General Assembly to legalize physician-assisted suicide.  I hope that by the time you are reading this column that effort organized by Maryland Against Physician-Assisted Suicide will have been successful in stopping this bill once again.
 
Let me now talk about a letter that priests of the Archdiocese received from Father Daniel Carson, Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Washington, on February 28, 2020.  Fr. Carson writes that the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center has received some requests for guidance about parish liturgies in light of the public concern currently being expressed about the Coronavirus, as well as other strains of the flu virus that occur at this time of year.  Most inquiries are in regard to the Sign of Peace, receiving the Blood of Christ from the chalice and receiving the Body of Christ on the tongue.

Fr. Carson continues by saying that pastors may wish to remind their parishioners that no one is ever under an obligation to shake hands during the Sign of Peace or to receive from the chalice.  Christ is fully present in each species when the bread and wine have been consecrated into His Body and Blood.  Pastors may also wish to remind their parishioners they can receive the Body of Christ in their hand instead of on the tongue.  He also says that pastors may also consider discontinuing temporarily the practice of offering communion under the form of Precious Blood as well as to take other precautions that we deem necessary.  After speaking with a number of people I have decided to discontinue temporarily the practice of offering communion under the form of Precious Blood.  We’ll resume the practice when it is prudent to do so.
 
Fr. Carson also recommends that if anyone is ill, or suspects that he or she is ill, he or she should refrain from participating in public activities, including Mass.  If you need to refrain from Sunday Mass, you are dispensed from the Sunday obligation.
 
Finally, let me close with the following prayer:  For civic leaders, medical personnel and others coordinating a response to the Coronavirus, may God give them wisdom and strength.  Let us pray to the Lord.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John