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H U B E R
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BOSTON - Patients who are terminally ill do not have a right to physician-assisted suicide, but their doctors can provide information and ad- vise about medical aid in dy- ing, a Massachusetts court has ruled. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Mary K. Ames said in her Dec. 31 decision that the legality of physician-assisted suicide is not one for the courts to decide. "The Legislature, not the court, is ideally positioned to weigh these arguments and determine whether, and if so, under what restrictions MAID (medical aid in dying) should be legally authorized," Ames said in her ruling. The ruling comes in a case filed by Dr. Roger Kligler, a retired physician from Cape Cod who has advanced pros- tate cancer, and Dr. Alan Steinbach, who treats termi- nally ill patients. Patient rights groups wel- comed Ames' decision, saying that allowing any type of sui- cide is "too dangerous." "We are gratified the court reaffirmed the law against assisted suicide and referred the matter to the Legislature where lawmaking belongs," John B. Kelly, director of Second Thoughts Massa- chusetts, a disability rights group, said in a statement Jan. 13. "Disability rights ad- vocates will continue to press the Legislature that assisted suicide is just too dangerous." Matt Valliere, execu- tive director of the Patients Rights Action Fund, said in a statement he sympathized with Kligler and other pa- tients who face a challenging medical diagnosis, but "as- sisted suicide is simply too dangerous." He added that the termi- nally ill, people with disabili- ties, the elderly and finan- cially disadvantaged people would be "at risk of abuse and coercion" if physician-as- sisted suicide was permitted. Americans United for Life, based in Washington, joined the advocates in applauding the ruling Jan. 14. "Every person, and espe- cially the most vulnerable, deserves to be told the truth - that there is no healing or curative reason for medi- cal suicide, and that there is always hope so long as there is life," Tom Shakely, AUL's chief engagement officer, said in a statement. Compassion & Choices, an organization that advocates for end-of-life care options, filed the lawsuit in 2016. It argued that patients should be able to end their lives with the aid of a physician in order to avoid needless suffering. A spokesman for the or- ganization said it planned to appeal Ames' ruling. In her decision, Ames wrote that while "this court has immense compassion for Dr. Kligler's desire to avoid a potentially painful death and for Dr. Steinbach's desire to ease his patients' suffering," it rejected the physicians' arguments that medical aid in dying should not be con- sidered manslaughter under Massachusetts law. She determined, however, that physicians can share advice and information about medical aid in dying with their patients.
Judge rejects right to assisted suicide
Massachusetts judge said physician-assisted suicide is a matter for legislators to weigh
By TIM SWIFT
Catholic News Service
PIKESVILLE, Md. - U.S. Sens. Benjamin Cardin and Christopher Van Hollen, both Maryland Democrats, joined Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore and other local faith leaders to call for increased federal funding to strengthen security at reli- gious sites amid a recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks. "We are deeply disturbed by the recent apparent rise in anti-Semitism, in particu- lar, the violent attacks that took place last year during the Hanukkah celebration in New York and on the ko- sher market in Jersey City," Archbishop Lori said at Jan. 13 news conference outside the Baltimore Hebrew Con- gregation in Pikesville. "I commend our Senate leaders for calling us togeth- er today to condemn these acts, but also to take concrete and necessary measures to do everything we can to pro- tect the rights of all people," he said. The senators are propos- ing to quadruple funding in next year's federal budget for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which pro- vides assistance to religious and other nonprofit institu- tions that are potential tar- gets for terrorist attacks. They were joined by Rep. John Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat. Stressing the need for the increase, Van Hollen said the FBI has reported anti-Semit- ic attacks rose 35% between 2014 and 2018. Speakers also cited attacks on mosques and Christian churches, includ- ing recent mass shootings in Texas. If the proposal is success- ful, the program would pro- vide an additional $360 mil- lion in security assistance each year. "Religious institutions are targets. Europe's known this for a long time and their governments have partici- pated in making these facili- ties safe for people to be able to attend," Cardin said. "We now recognize in the United States that we are similarly vulnerable with religious in- stitutions being targets for terrorism." Howard Libit, president of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said the federal funds are greatly needed amid the threat posed by the rise in anti-Semitism. Libit said many members of Jewish congregations have had to give more to their synagogues to offset the in- creased security costs. Rabbi Shmuel Silber of Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim Congregation said he was saddened by the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks, but he was hopeful in light of the support of the govern- ment and other faiths. "We are emboldened and we will continue to shepherd our respective communities in our faith traditions and never bow to hate and big- otry," Silber said. Last year, Maryland insti- tutions received more than $3 million under the pro- gram. The fund supported Baltimore Hebrew Congrega- tion, Suburban Orthodox To- ras Chaim, the Islamic Soci- ety of Annapolis and St. John Regional Catholic School in Frederick. Sheila Evers, director of advancement for St. John Regional, said the school re- ceived $100,000 to upgrade its security, including adding magnetic locks, new lighting and a perimeter fence. Evers said the funds helped imple- ment the recommendations of threat assessment con- ducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Frederick Police Depart- ment. Both Cardin and Van Hol- len praised Archbishop Lori's efforts at forging stronger bonds among the interfaith community in recent years. "He's been an incredible leader on bringing us all to- gether, all the faith commu- nities together," Cardin said. Archbishop Lori said he would work with his col- leagues at the U.S. Confer- ence of Catholic Bishops to ensure that the bipartisan grant program, which began in the wake of the 9/11 at- tacks, continues to grow. "The concrete steps we support here are vitally im- portant, but we also continue to put our faith in the simple act of coming together, stand- ing side by side, to demon- strate that love will always be a greater power than evil," Archbishop Lori said.
2 WWW.THERECORDNEWSPAPER.ORG LOCAL / NATION THE RECORD JANUARY 16, 2020
CNS Photo by Tim Swift, Catholic Review
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori spoke in favor of in- creased federal funding for religious sites during a Jan. 13 news conference. The archbishop was joined by Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders, as well as Maryland lawmakers Sen. Chris- topher Van Hollen, D-Md., and Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md.
Funding sought to secure religious sites
Faith leaders urge increase in federal funding after anti- Semitic attacks
Presentation Academy will hold a memorial service Jan. 23 in honor of Suzanne Ratkowski, who died Jan. 9 in Milwaukee. The service will be at 2 p.m. in the school theater, 900 S. Fourth St. Ratkowski was honored by Presentation in 2003 as the Tower Award Winner for Women Leaders in Business, Technology and Trade. She was a member of the school's Board of Trustees and named an honorary alumna in 2006.
Presentation to honor Suzanne Ratkowski
LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOP
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, This weekend, parishes will take up the collection for Opportunities for Life (OFL). This collection is held in all four Kentucky dioceses in the week of the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade (January 22), as part of the Kentucky bishops' unified message advocating for a pro- life culture in our Commonwealth. In the Archdiocese of Louisville, funds from this collection provide resources to pregnant women and new families in crisis, including material assistance and grant support for programming at Catholic Charities and other pregnancy resource centers. In past years, this collection supported a 24-hour hotline, which provided support and information to callers dealing with challenges. In the past, operating a hotline was a wise, efficient and accessible way to offer support to a woman who found herself dealing with an untimely pregnancy. In recent years, changes in technology have altered the ways in which people choose to communicate and seek out information and so after careful consideration, the bishops of the state decided to end the operation of the lifeline. Instead, the dioceses in Kentucky conduct a statewide January collection in support of Opportunities for Life, and each diocese adopted its own plan to use OFL funds to best serve the needs of pregnant women in crisis, in light of specific needs and other supports available within that community. In the 24 counties of the Archdiocese of Louisville, the Opportunities for Life collection established a "Lifeline Fund," which provides direct support to mothers who are facing crisis situations. The grant has assisted women facing homelessness, abusive family situations, problems with utility bills, and other difficult situations. Grants are administered through the Catholic Charities Family Support and Referral Center. Last year's collection also funded grants to six organizations that support pregnant women and their children and that seek to build a culture of life. These grants assisted The Golden Arrow Center for Mothers and Children, Lifehouse Maternity Home, Little Way Pregnancy Resource Center, Louisville Moms Helping Moms, Billboards for Life, and A Loving Choice Pregnancy Crisis Center. For more information about the Lifeline Fund and the grants, see https://therecordnewspaper.org/ closed-hotline-fund-becomes-a-lifeline/. As you consider your gift, please pray that those experiencing an untimely pregnancy will have the courage to seek help and affirm life and that our culture strengthens its resolve to support both unborn children and their parents. Sincerely yours in our Lord, Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Archbishop of Louisville
Collection will benefit Opportunities for Life
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