For Immediate Release
Fredericksburg, VA (April 17, 2019) – American Life League president, Judie Brown, issued the following statement today regarding New Jersey governor Phil Murphy’s decision to sign medically assisted suicide into state law.
When a politician goes against God’s law, Satan takes one step forward. When a self-proclaimed “practicing Catholic” politician goes again God’s law, Satan takes two steps forward.
I am disgusted and deeply saddened by the recent decision of New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy, to sign medically assisted suicide into state law, especially since he did so against the will of Bishop James F. Checchio and after “careful consideration, internal reflection, and prayer.”
The Catholic Church is clearly and vehemently against the practice of assisted suicide. Section 2277 of the Catechism states: “Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.”
Further, section 2281 states:
Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
Assisted suicide tells a person his suffering has no purpose—that he has no worth and therefore must stop being a burden to society. Catholics and Christians, including Governor Murphy, know this could not be further from the truth.
We are given the incredible gift of being able to unite our suffering to that of Jesus on the cross. No suffering is in vain, and no life is ever disposable. This is something Catholic Governor Murphy seems to have forgotten.
During Holy Week, the literal pinnacle of our faith, I implore Governor Murphy to reconsider.
It was this time 2,000 years ago that our Lord died for you, Governor Murphy. He suffered unimaginable pain at the hands of the very people He was dying for. In the garden, Jesus thought about giving up, but He didn’t. He knew His suffering and death had a greater purpose. We would be naive to think that our own sufferings were not equally as important.
Governor, in this time where great moral tragedy is all around us, consider the fact that offering up our own suffering could change the world. As a Catholic, you know Jesus’ own suffering and death is a testament to the power of sacrifice.
American Life League is the nation’s oldest grassroots, Catholic, pro-life organization. Its president, Judie Brown, has led the organization since its 1979 beginning. She has served three terms on the Pontifical Academy for Life—appointed twice by Pope John Paul II and again by Pope Benedict XVI.
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For further information or for an interview, contact Katie Brown at kbrown@all.org or call 540-659-4171 ex.108.
Photo Credit: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Credit: Phil Murphy/Flickr