Yesterday we discussed the issues surrounding the intent of the bill. (For Part 1 click here – https://nycshepherd.com/2015/03/02/seven-major-reasons-all-new-yorkers-including-state-senator-diane-savino-should-lobby-against-assisted-suicidedeath-with-dignity-bill/) today we want to stress two more reasons the bill should be opposed.

• The effects of the bill will be damaging

I am confident the sponsors of this bill don’t want to trample on the rights of others. However, this bill will indeed do just that. Senator Savino states forcefully that a terminally ill patient has a “basic human right to die.”  By claiming this to be a right, the Senator and those in favor of this bill are elevating this to a human rights issue. If this is a “basic human right” then regardless of initial safeguards, every doctor will have to bow to it regardless of their feelings on the matter. In addition, every hospice organization will have to sign on to this viewpoint to get government funding for their services and to participate in certain hospitals and situations. When something is a “basic human right” any personal or religious objections are not allowed to stand (Compare to the current plight of bakers and florists who would prefer, based on their personal beliefs, not to lend their talents/services to gay weddings).

Furthermore, the concept of the right to die will be expanded. The wording of this bill, if it becomes law, will eventually be used to cover those who are emotionally tormented or who just want out. If they can show that they are mentally competent, as stated in the words of the bill, why shouldn’t they be allowed this option? Why should the words “six months” or “terminally ill” stop them if they have a right to die. The courts and lawyers will get involved and the bill will be expanded via judicial fiat. In light of this reason alone, this bill should be opposed.

• The main group behind this bill has another agenda

If you think my words above are hyper exaggerations from someone who doesn’t have anything else to do but cry wolf, please consider the following. This bill is modeled after the Oregon Law which has been in effect since 1998. This law was recently spotlighted in the difficult situation of Brittany Maynard who moved to Oregon so she could make use of the law. Her situation was highlighted by a group called Compassion and Choices who boast that for 30 years they have sought to allow people to experience death with dignity. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?  Compassion and Choices is the product of the merger of two organizations, The End of Life Federation and The Hemlock Society. That’s right, the Hemlock Society, who from its inception until the merger in 2005 lobbied in their own words “for voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide to be made legal for terminally and hopelessly ill adults.”  This is the core of who they are.  By the way, voluntary euthanasia means taking your own life without the help of a physician and even with the help of someone else. My point is that these are the people who drafted the words of the Oregon Law and thus the New York bill. Their goal is to expand it. They have written it that way.  This is just a first step. They want a world where suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia are commonplace.  The Law will be challenged in court as being too restrictive and expanded. They believe that everyone has a fundamental right to die. The acknowledgement of that right is their ultimate goal. Because of who is behind the crafting of this bill, the bill should be voted against.

Please contact your representative to register your opposition

Andrew J. Lanza, State Senator
24th District
3845 Richmond Avenue  Island, NY 10312
Phone: 718-984-5151
Fax: 718-984-5737
http://www.nyssenate24.com/24/default.aspx

Diane Savino, State Senator
23rd District
36 Richmond Terrace, Room 112
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: 718-727-9406
Fax: 718-727- 9426
http://www.nyssenate23.com/

Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblywoman
60th District
586B Midland Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10306
Phone: 718-667-5891
Fax: 718-667-5879
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=060

Matthew Titone, Assemblyman
61st District
853 Forest Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
Phone: 718-442-9932
Fax 718-442-9942
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=061

Joseph Borrelli, State Assemblyman
62nd District
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 200
Staten Island, NY 10309
Phone: 718-967-5194
Fax: 718- 967-5282
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=062

Michael Cusick, Assemblyman
63rd District
1911 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 718-370-1384
Fax: 718-370-2543
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=063

22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. You Must Be Ready 35“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he  would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant  whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

The leader must be clothed “with humility”(1 Peter 5:5). The verb refers to a slave’s tying on a white apron, which gives this verse an added note of meaning. Was Peter recalling the sad night when he refused to take the towel and wash his master’s feet? Would pride keep other leaders from joyful service? Pride ever lurks at the heels of power, but God will not encourage proud men in His service. Rather, He will oppose and obstruct them. But to the undershepherd who is humble and lowly in heart, God will add power and grace to the work.