Category Archives: Archived Posts

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/.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN REPARATION FOR ABORTION 2024

*NEW LOCATION*  Join in prayer to bring an end to abortion at the Good Friday Prayer Service and Procession of the Stations of the Cross in Reparation for Abortion this Friday, March 29, 2024. The prayer service begins at 9:00 a.m. at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini at Corpus Christi Church, 864 E. Main St., Rochester, 14605. Following the half an hour service is the procession in prayer with the Stations of the Cross and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy leading to PLANNED PARENTHOOD (114 University Ave., Rochester, 14605). This is a peaceful, prayerful, and lawful public expression of our faith in Jesus Christ. For more information contact Rick Paoletti at (585) 489-9555. Event flyer.

USCCB IS CALLING FOR A NATIONWIDE INVITATION TO PRAYER BEGINNING MARCH 25

The USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities is inviting Catholics to join a Nationwide Invitation to Prayer for a focused effort for the end of abortion and for the protection of women and preborn children, to St. Joseph, Defender of Life beginning on March 25.

On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

Read more about is Invitation to Prayer and share it with others:

U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Asks for “Radical Solidarity” with Mothers in Respect Life Month Statement

Since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States has observed October as “Respect Life Month.” This year, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities invites Catholics to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Respect Life Month by embracing “radical solidarity” with women facing difficult or challenging pregnancies.

Read Bishop Burbidge’s full statement, “Living Radical Solidarity” here.