At our June 13th Monthly Meeting (1-2:30), we will be joined by Dr. Daniel Olsen and Susan Pudelek from the Archdiocese of Chicago, Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Our speakers will provide a presentation, exploring the impact of the current war in Gaza within local Jewish and Muslim communities and offer a Christian response grounded in the teachings of Jesus.

Legislation has been introduced to legalize assisted suicide in Illinois. SB 3499 makes it legal for a physician to prescribe an array of lethal drugs to a person diagnosed with a terminal disease who requests to end his or her life. The Catholic Bishops of Illinois oppose this legislation; there is a better way forward for our state. As Pope Francis underscores, “We must accompany people towards death, but not provide death or facilitate assisted suicide.” Assisted suicide disregards the Hippocratic Oath, “Do No Harm,” and sends the wrong message about the role of medical professionals. We cannot say it any better than the American Medical Association, “Physician assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would provide serious societal risks.”

This legislation brings a range of possible abuses. It should alarm us that in states with legalized assisted suicide there are documented cases of people being offered inexpensive lethal drugs to end their life rather than being provided more costly treatment. The poor and those with disabilities are particularly in jeopardy because they are the most vulnerable to abuses. Every major national organization that represents people with disabilities is opposed to assisted suicide.

In Oregon, where assisted suicide has been legal since 1997, data show that pain is not among the top five reasons why a person wants to end their life. Loss of autonomy, feelings of being a burden and being less able to engage in activities that make life enjoyable are most often cited as reasons for choosing assisted suicide. A better way forward is to expand mental health coverage and strengthen social supports such as community programs to help those dealing with depression and feelings of hopelessness.

No one wants to suffer or experience a loved one’s suffering. Fortunately, there are effective ways to alleviate suffering or make a person more comfortable at the end of life through palliative care. This relatively new specialty area of medicine cares for the whole person – physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually – to relieve symptoms and stress that often accompany serious illness or side effects of treatment. A better way forward is to expand the number of palliative care locations and services in all areas of Illinois.

Assisted suicide is not a compassionate solution for those who are suffering. There is a better way forward that truly offers compassionate care and compassionate choices. Please visit the Catholic Confernce of Illinois or call 217-528-9200 to find out how to contact your local elected official to tell them to vote NO on SB 3499.

Se ha introducido legislación para legalizar el suicidio asistido en Illinois. La SB 3499 legaliza que un médico recete una variedad de medicamentos letales a una persona diagnosticada con una enfermedad terminal que solicite poner fin a su vida. Los Obispos Católicos de Illinois se oponen a esta legislación; hay un mejor camino a seguir para nuestro estado. Como subraya el Papa Francisco, “debemos acompañar a las personas hacia la muerte, pero no proporcionar la muerte ni facilitar el suicidio asistido”. El suicidio asistido ignora el juramento hipocrático, “No hagas daño”, y envía el mensaje equivocado sobre el papel de los profesionales médicos. No podemos decirlo mejor que la Asociación Médica Americana: “El suicidio asistido por médicos es fundamentalmente incompatible con el papel del médico como sanador, sería difícil o imposible de controlar y proporcionaría graves riesgos sociales”.

Esta legislación conlleva una serie de posibles abusos. Debería alarmarnos que en los estados con suicidio asistido legalizado hay casos documentados de personas a las que se les ofrecen medi-camentos letales de bajo costo para acabar con su vida en lugar de recibir un tratamiento más costoso. Los pobres y las personas con discapacidad están particularmente en peligro porque son los más vulnerables a los abusos. Todas las organizaciones naciona-les importantes que representan a las personas con discapacidad se oponen al suicidio asistido.

En Oregón, donde el suicidio asistido ha sido legal desde 1997, los datos muestran que el dolor no está entre las cinco principales razones por las que una persona quiere terminar su vida. La pér-dida de autonomía, los sentimientos de ser una carga y ser menos capaz de participar en actividades que hacen la vida agradable se citan con mayor frecuencia como razones para elegir el suicidio asistido. Una mejor manera de avanzar es ampliar la cobertura de salud mental y fortalecer los apoyos sociales, como los programas comunitarios, para ayudar a quienes se enfrentan a la depresión y a los sentimientos de desesperanza.

Nadie quiere sufrir o experimentar el sufrimiento de un ser queri-do. Afortunadamente, hay formas efectivas de aliviar el sufrimien-to o hacer que una persona se sienta más cómoda al final de la vida a través de los cuidados paliativos. Esta área de especialidad relativamente nueva de la medicina cuida a toda la persona – física, emocional, social y espiritualmente – para aliviar los sínto-mas y el estrés que a menudo acompañan enfermedades graves o efectos secundarios del tratamiento. Una mejor manera de avanzar es ampliar el número de ubicaciones y servicios de cuida-dos paliativos en todas las áreas de Illinois.

El suicidio asistido no es una solución compasiva para aquellos que están sufriendo. Hay un mejor camino hacia adelante que realmente ofrece atención compasiva y opciones compasivas. Visite the Catholic Confernce of Illinois o llame al 217-528-9200 para averiguar cómo comunicarse con su funcionario electo local para decirle que vote NO a la SB 3499.

Register Now

Dear Family of Faith,

Beginning four years ago, when our two parishes united and became one parish, we really haven’t celebrated our Feast Day of Mary, Queen of the Apostles! I would like to suggest that, remembering Mary, gathering with the Apostles in the upper room, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, is a great time, yearly, for us to celebrate our Patroness, Mary.

So this Saturday, all are welcome to our 5 p.m. Mass, and then immediately after, a potluck dinner to celebrate our Patroness. Please bring a side to share and the entrée will be provided by our parish!  All that is needed is an RSVP from you and your family. Please click here  to share your attendance and what you will bring.

As always, it will be good to be together to celebrate our Mother and Patroness, Mary, Queen of Apostles.

What: Celebrating Our Feast Day of Mary, Queen of Apostles
When: Saturday, May 18, 2024

• Mass at 5pm
• Dinner at 6pm

Where: Queen of Angels Church and Holy Family Hall
Who: Everyone!

In the service of Jesus,

Fr. Jason
Pastor, Queen of Apostles Parish.