Compassion & Choices: In Thought and Action April 2007

COMPASSION & CHOICES: IN THOUGHT AND ACTION 04.07
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CALIFORNIA AB 374 SUPPORTERS STAND UP FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Patients’ rights advocates, families and clergy are in a “David and
Goliath” struggle with Catholic clerics who are leading a well-funded
pressure campaign to force Vatican dogma on all terminally ill
Californians.

Catholic bishops and their political arm are at the forefront of
opposition to proposed aid-in-dying legislation. Cardinal Roger Mahony
led an assault just days after AB 374 was moved forward by a 7–3 vote
in the Assembly Judiciary Committee, charging supporters of the bill
with participating in a “culture of death” and the legislation with
being against “God’s law and God’s plan.” Mahony went even further
by personally attacking Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, a Catholic,
for backing AB 374.

Nearly 70 percent of Californians from diverse religious backgrounds
support a terminally ill patient’s right to request a prescription to
ensure a peaceful death. Rev. Dr. Ignacio Castuera spoke for religious
tolerance for end-of-life decisions, “People of different faiths and
beliefs agree that life is sacred and should be respected and preserved
as long as humanly possible. However, when death is imminent, it is
entirely respectful to the sanctity of life to allow a person to decide
for himself or herself when and how they can ease their pain and
suffering in a dignified manner.”

The ACLU of Southern California also responded to Cardinal Mahony,
letting him know that his convictions were not the only ones that
matter. “For people of faith, their deaths involve a very private
conversation with their Creator. The ACLU/SC believes the government
should not intrude on that conversation and cannot impose one faith’s
doctrine on all,” the group said a statement.

AB 374 protects religious preferences by not requiring anyone to use it
and by permitting any medical provider or hospital to not participate
in a dying patient's choice to use it. Rather than promoting violent or
covert practices relating to death, this law will bring the light of
public scrutiny and improved care for dying patients across the board.

If you are a California resident, your lawmakers must hear your support
for AB 374 and religious freedom today. The bill’s supporters in the
Assembly need to feel your enthusiasm, now that they are under attack
from the Catholic Church. Please visit the Compassion & Choices
Action Center and send an e-mail. Tell them they represent you, and
state government is not an enforcement arm for Catholic doctrine.

• Visit the Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/OWKLHAERZQ/1149865971/

• Listen to an excerpt of the homily (mp3):
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/HPRFHAERZR/11498659713

• Watch the KTLA story:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/MALUHAERZS/1149865971

• Read the L.A. Times article:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/FOLFHAERZT/1149865971

• Read the Sacramento Bee article (PDF):
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/KJMEHAERZU/1149865971

• Share with a friend or family member:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/KIYUHAERZV/1149865971/

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ON MY MIND, BY BARBARA COOMBS LEE

“I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic,
Protestant, nor Jewish—where no public official either requests or
accepts instructions on public policy from the pope, the National
Council of Churches, or any other ecclesiastical source—where no
religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the
general populace or the public acts of its officials.” John F. Kennedy

In 1960 many people doubted a Catholic could be elected president
because of fears he would be influenced by religious doctrine in
matters of state. In a speech before the Greater Houston Ministerial
Association, John F. Kennedy promised no religious pressure or threat
of punishment would make him follow orders from the Vatican. Ever
since, a candidate’s religion has been irrelevant to his candidacy for
public office. That is as it should be.

All that changes when church hierarchy puts the screws to California
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. All that changes when parish priests
distribute flyers calling Núñez a “killer,” and threaten to
withhold the sacrament of communion from any lawmaker voting for the
Compassionate Choices Act. Pressuring lawmakers to vote with the
Vatican is an affront to American democracy, and it’s not good for the
church, either. If Núñez bent before Cardinal Mahony’s power it
would sabotage the rule of pluralism Kennedy established 47 years ago.
Once again, it would matter deeply to voters whether a candidate were
Catholic.

It seems odd the Catholic hierarchy would want to push our democracy
back to the time Catholics were not considered electable.

AB 374 moves democracy forward. Only an oppressive government would use
criminal law to force people to die according to a set of doctrines and
values they do not share. Núñez doesn’t profess to speak for all
Californians; he merely asserts that everyone’s most profound wishes
should be heard and honored.

Kennedy would respect Núñez for standing his ground. In that same
speech he said, “Whatever issue may come before me as President—on
birth control, divorce…or any other subject—I will make my decision
in accordance with what my conscience tells me to be the national
interest, and without regard to outside religious pressure or
dictates.”

Núñez remains steadfast in his support of Californians’ deeply
personal, profoundly spiritual, end-of-life decisions. He’s facing
attacks on his integrity and character with unflinching courage. The
age-old battle for the separation of church and state now defines the
Compassionate Choices Act campaign. End-of-life choices used to define
the debate; now the oppression of religious dogma does.

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HENRY AND MARY RODGERS GUETTEL HOST CIRCLE RECEPTION IN NEW YORK CITY

The Upper West Side apartment of Henry and Mary Rodgers Guettel was
standing room only on April 11 for a Compassion & Choices Circle
gathering. Co-hosts Jane Silver of the Irene Diamond Fund and Yvette
Neier, noted philanthropist and wife of Aryeh Neier, president of
George Soros’ Open Society Institute, were among the guests who
eagerly joined salon-style discussion groups led by Compassion &
Choices President Barbara Coombs Lee, Robert Raben (Compassion &
Choices lobbyist and principal of the Raben Group), and Compassion
& Choices New York Client Care Director Judith Schwarz on topics
related to improving care and expanding choice at the end of life.

Mary Rodgers Guettel, author and composer as well as daughter of
composer Richard Rodgers, was introduced to Compassion & Choices by
award-winning television director John Erman who volunteers with our
New York Affiliate. “I think this issue is so important,” Mary said.
“I wanted to know more, and give my friends an opportunity to know
more.”

If you are interested in hosting a Compassion & Choices Circle or
event, please contact Robynn James at 866.444.8940.

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VERMONT HOUSE VOTES DOWN H. 44

The Vermont House voted 82-63 to defeat H. 44, the Patient Control at
the End of Life bill on March 21. Legislators ignored the grassroots
call and overwhelming support for decriminalization of aid in dying and
gave in to the misinformation campaign of bill’s opponents.

Nine years of independently verified data from Oregon indisputably
proves the Death with Dignity Act has not resulted in the dire
consequences opponents predicted, yet those same scare tactics eroded
support for the measure in Vermont. The “no” votes keep aid in dying
covert, unregulated and unsafe in the state.

Compassion & Choices will not abandon terminally ill people in
Vermont. Our Client Support teams will be available, even though the
legislature failed to bring Vermonters the safety and assurance of
legal aid in dying.

Compassion & Choices Action Network will continue to support
grassroots efforts to enact aid-in-dying laws across the country. For
updates on current legislative efforts, visit our Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/IRIVHAERZW/1149865971/

• Read the Burlington Free Press article:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/HWUVHAERZX/1149865971=2007703210309

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JURY AWARDS DAMAGES FOR FAILURE TO HONOR AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE

A Palm Beach County Florida jury awarded $150,000 in damages to the
family of a 92-year-old Alzheimer’s patient who was kept alive by
artificial means in violation of her advance directive wishes.

A nursing home ignored Madeline Neumann’s do-not-resuscitate order by
calling 911 after she fell unconscious, which resulted in six days of
hospital interventions before her death including the insertion of a
breathing tube.

This verdict sends an important message to all elder care providers
that a patient’s advance directive must be honored.

• Read the South Florida Sun-Sentinel story:
http://capwiz.com/compassionandchoices/utr/1/NEOUHAEQTP/FAFJHAERZY/1149865971