Posted on 04/02/2007 2:56:28 PM PDT by SmithL
LOS ANGELES - Cardinal Roger Mahony called on members of the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese Monday to beat back a proposal to legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill in California, and accused the Legislature's most powerful Democrat of being swept into a "culture of death."
"Assisted suicide is totally unnecessary - not only is it against God's law, God's plan, we simply don't need something like that," Mahony said during a lightly attended noon Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
He urged parishioners to pressure Sacramento legislators "to vote down ... this attack on life."
He leveled unusually sharp criticism at one of the bill's prominent sponsors, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, who recently met with the Cardinal to discuss the proposal. Nunez's support is viewed as crucial if the bill is to reach the governor's desk.
Mahony said he was saddened and confused by Nunez's decision to endorse a plan that would allow the terminally ill to obtain life-ending drugs from their physicians.
"We should be troubled that Fabian Nunez - who has worshipped here in this cathedral, is a Catholic - somehow has not understood and grasped the culture of life but has allowed himself to get swept into this other direction, the culture of death," Mahony said.
An Assembly committee last week approved the bill, the fourth attempt in recent years to get it to through the Legislature.
Modeled after an Oregon law, it would allow patients found by two physicians to have no more than six months to live to request a drug to end their lives when they choose. The drug would have to be administered by the patient, who would have to request the prescription in writing and orally. A physician could require the patient to have counseling before receiving the drug.
In a statement, spokesman Steve Maviglio said while the speaker respects the Cardinal's opinion "this is another issue of individual choice where the overwhelming majority of Catholics have a different perspective than the official position of the church. Personal liberty and dignity are important values to Californians, regardless of their religious beliefs."
Even if the bill makes it out of the Legislature, it could face a veto by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has said the issue should be decided by voters rather than the Legislature and governor.
"The governor has not seen the legislation. However, his position has always been that this is a very significant issue that should be decided directly by the voters," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said.
Sound of one hand clapping for Cardinal Mahoney.
I think Mahony is trying to curry favor with somebody in Rome. That’s ok, if that’s what it takes to get him to say something like this, fine. But I hope he carries through and excommunicates the supposedly Catholic legislator who is pushing this bill.
Satan LOVES death.
Muslims LOVE death.
Anyone see a PATTERN?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Vermont recently voted down an assisted suicide bill, thank God. It was suddenly sprung on the legislature and voted on with almost no time for discussion. But they couldn’t get the votes.
I have a feeling somebody is orchestrating this.
This is a pretty strong statement for that progressive flake Mahoney. Let’s hope he stays the course.
Hey Monk I got give props to cardinal mahoeny on this
Here it is: “Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”
Mahony standing up for Christianity? Oh, of course... This is in the 4/2/7 issue, which means he did it on April Fool’s Day.
Mahony actually said something Catholic? I’m shocked! Shocked, I tell you.
In other news.... the global warming is causing the sky to fall and the fires of hell to rage.
You left out liberals
"this is another issue of individual choice where the overwhelming majority of Catholics have a different perspective than the official position of the church. Personal liberty and dignity are important values to Californians, regardless of their religious beliefs."
Ahhh.... so I guess that as long as a majority believes in it, then it must be ok?
Seems to me a majority also wanted to release Barabbas during the trial of Christ.
Well, I only gave him one hand because it’s largely his responsibility that the laity of the Archdiocese are so poorly catechized. Not entirely his fault, of course, but the teaching is a major role of a Bishop, and it doesn’t appear Cdl. Mahony’s getting the job done very well.
He's done some goofball things, and if the majority of Catholics in his Diocease are ignorant to what the church stands for, then he needs to change that thinking.
In the Confessional spirit of Holy Week, I have to say that I thought the new Cathedral was kind of cool, in a Go’a’uld sort of way.
I read an article on it in “St. Anthony Messenger.” I think the architect was a Franciscan; they do tend to be goofballs, at least in the U.S.
I went to a Catholic Men's conference a few weeks ago. It was outstanding. Over 450 men who came to profess their faith, attend confession, and listen to some very conservative, and learned priests. The best was Father Hoffmann.
He gave the best talk on the Eucharist I have ever heard. I am hoping to get a copy of his talk. (I know they were selling them on CD after the Mass.)
Let me know if you're interested.
If you have a first and last name and order on Father Hoffman, I can google for his articles or CD’s for sale. I’m always interested in more material.
If I can I'll forward the information.
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