Diocese of Rockford urges Catholics to oppose Illinois legislation on medically assisted suicide

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - A letter from Bishop David Malloy urges Catholics to oppose efforts that would make medically assisted suicide legal in the state of Illinois.

Two identical bills, Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 1328, were introduced in January in the Illinois state legislature.

The End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act would allow certain terminally ill patients to request that a physician prescribe medication that would allow the patient to end their own life.

Those who support the legislation say it ends a person’s unnecessary suffering at the end of their life. Advocacy groups also argue the laws empower those with terminal illness to have control over what they want in their last days.

In his letter, Bishop Malloy states suicide goes against teachings of the Catholic Church and that medical advancements mean there are ways to make a person more comfortable at the end of their life.

Bishop Malloy's Letter by WIFR Newsroom on Scribd

The letter will be shared during Masses this weekend, March 15-16, at all parishes in the 11-county Diocese of Rockford.

In addition to asking pastors to share information about the legislation and his letter with congregations, Bishop Malloy urges parishioners to write, call or e-mail their state officials.

A similar End of Life Options Act was introduced in the Illinois legislature last year, but did not advance. If approved, HB1328 and SB9 would take effect six months after becoming law.

Currently, 10 states and Washington, D.C. have approved legislation allowing medically assisted suicide.