Bishop calls on faithful to lobby against New York assisted suicide legislation

""Gov. Hochul, we know difficult decisions weigh heavily on leaders and you carefully consider the impact of every decision on New Yorkers," Brennan wrote. "As you review the assisted suicide legislation, we respectfully urge you to veto it.""

""Assisted suicide targets the poor, the vulnerable, and especially individuals suffering with mental illness. There are better ways to support those facing end-of-life challenges, through improved palliative care, pain management, and compassionate support systems.""

""You championed New York's suicide prevention program and invested millions of dollars to, as you said, 'ensure New Yorkers are aware of this critical resource.' That groundbreaking program has worked to provide the right training and crisis intervention measures to prevent suicides.""

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan urged the faithful to contact Governor Kathy Hochul and ask her to veto the Medical Aid in Dying Act awaiting her signature. The law, passed by the state Legislature in June, would allow terminally ill New Yorkers over 18 to request medically assisted death. Brennan warned that assisted suicide disproportionately targets the poor, vulnerable people, and those with mental illness, and advocated for improved palliative care, pain management, and compassionate support instead. Brennan highlighted Governor Hochul's previous investments in suicide prevention programs, crisis hotlines, and youth initiatives and argued signing the bill would contradict those efforts and endanger high-risk populations.

Read at Catholic News Agency