Author Archives: Elizabeth Johnston

Suicide Assistance or Suicide Prevention? Lessons from Canada on Opposing Euthanasia in NYS

As you may know, just a few days ago (4/22) the New York State Assembly announced that it would be taking up the Medical Aid in Dying Act (the title of the A136/S138 piece of legislation), which would legalize assisted suicide across the State. This would be a great tragedy; as our late Holy Father Francis wrote, “euthanasia and assisted suicide are a defeat for all. We are called never to abandon those who are suffering, never giving up but caring and loving to restore hope.” (June 5, 2019) For basic information about this legislation and the Catholic response, the New York State Catholic Conference’s statement can be found here, and the joint statement of our Bishops can be found here.

For further discussion of this important issue, invite your community to join a webinar (Zoom only) offered by Amanda Achtman, St. Bernard’s own adjunct professor in our bioethics program, titled: Suicide Assistance or Suicide Prevention? Lessons from Canada on Opposing Euthanasia in New York State. It will be held this Thursday from 7-8:30pm. It will be a great opportunity for us to be better informed about physician-assisted suicide and the reasons for the Church’s teaching in opposition to this practice. We are grateful to welcome the New York State Catholic Conference, the Diocese of Rochester Department of Pastoral Services (Office of Life Issues), the Finger Lakes Guild, and Feminists Choosing Life of New York as co-sponsors.

To register click here: https://stbernards.regfox.com/suicide-assistance-or-suicide-prevention

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1SYaYzTsXg/.

USCCB Subcommittee Chairmen Response to IVF Executive Order

Bishop Thomas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop Barron, Chairman of the Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, responded to the Executive Order calling for policies to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) les costly and more available. Read statement.

Learn more: Church Teaching on Reproductive Technology

A statement of the Catholic Bishops of New York State

“Proposal 1: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing“ (September 5, 2024)
A statement from  His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany; Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn; Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher, Bishop of Buffalo; Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley, Bishop of Ogdensburg; Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester; Most Rev. John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre; Most Rev. Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of Syracuse; and the auxiliary and emeritus Bishops of New York State.

USCCB Statement on 2nd Year Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

June 24, 2024, marks the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, that brought an end to the nearly fifty-year reign of Roe v. Wade and national abortion on demand. Pro-Life Committee Chairman, Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, shares this statement available in both English & Spanish.