As Christmas approaches, it’s a time when we all reflect on the profound gift of life bestowed upon us.
Meanwhile, New York stands at yet another moral crossroad.
Gov. Kathy Hochul faces a decision that will define not only her legacy, but the soul of our state: whether to sign or veto the Medical Aid in Dying Act.
Catholic teaching affirms the inherent dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Therefore, Catholics urge Hochul, a self-professed Catholic, to veto this dangerous legislation.
Signing this bill would sanction a culture of death, undermining the very principles of compassion, mercy, and protection for the vulnerable that our faith demands.
The bill, which passed both chambers of the state legislature earlier this year, purports to offer “choice” to terminally ill adults by allowing physicians to prescribe lethal medications for self-administration.
“We talk about the slippery slope,” Bishop Robert Brennan said. “In other places where it’s been enacted, what starts off as a choice very quickly becomes an encouragement. When there’s the availability of something quicker, and that brings death sooner, these are concerning to us.”
In Canada, where MAID was made legal in 2019, assisted suicide was the fourth leading cause of death in 2024, killing 16,104 souls.
Catholic doctrine is unequivocal on this matter. It states that “whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists of putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.”
This bill is euthanasia by another name, physician-assisted suicide, and it erodes the sacred trust between doctor and patient, transforming healers into agents of death.
The New York State Catholic Conference, representing our bishops, has rightly decried it as a threat to the most marginalized, echoing the concerns of disability rights groups who fear it will devalue lives deemed “less worthy.”
Even Hochul’s reported proposed amendments, such as videotaped requests or mandatory psychiatric evaluations, fail to address the core evil: state-sanctioned killing.
Speaking on the topic of Hochul adding additional safeguards, Bishop Brennan responded flatly, “No,” noting that “there is no compromise” in this situation.
“The taking of a life is the taking of a life,” he said.
Gov. Hochul, you have spoken of this as a “challenging moral question,” invoking your background in suicide prevention.
We applaud that reflection, but we implore you to align your actions with the faith you share with millions of New York Catholics.
As Advent unfolds, let us pray for wisdom and courage.
Catholics across the state, from the candlelight vigils in Manhattan to the faithful in Syracuse and Albany, stand united in opposition. Join us, Governor, in protecting the sanctity of life. Veto the Medical Aid in Dying Act, and let New York be a beacon of hope, not despair. The vulnerable are counting on you.
May God guide your hand.