These can be used at any time.

What actually happens in a physician-assisted suicide?
A doctor prescribes a lethal drug cocktail – up to 100 pills – that a person picks up at the local pharmacy, grinds up into half a cup of water, and drinks in less than two minutes. Sometimes, the person can take hours or days to die. Plus, there are no requirements for a witness or notification of family. Assisted suicide isn’t dignified, it’s deadly. Tell your Maryland legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Physician-assisted suicide incentivizes denying cancer treatment
In states where assisted suicide is legal, insurance companies have turned down coverage for cancer treatment but offered to pay for suicide drugs instead. Stop this from happening in Maryland. Tell your state legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Physician-assisted suicide urges suicide for elderly
Elderly in Maryland have a higher rate of suicide than any other age group – double the teen suicide rate. Yet a proposed physician-assisted suicide bill would not require any mental health evaluation to screen for depression. Assisted suicide isn’t dignified, it’s deadly. Tell your state legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Physician-assisted suicide tells people they’re burdensome
In Oregon, data shows people request suicide drugs not for pain, but because they can’t do the same activities that they could before, can’t control bodily functions, feel they’ve lost dignity or feel they are a burden. Suicide drugs aren’t the answer. Everyone deserves loving, supportive care, affirmation of their dignity, and to know that they are never a burden. Tell your state legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Physician-assisted suicide is dangerous for Maryland
If assisted suicide became legal, up to 100 pills would be prescribed to a person. These lethal drugs would then be dispensed at your neighborhood pharmacy. Data shows that where assisted suicide is legal, up to 40% of the drugs are never used – and there are no requirements for their disposal. They could end up in the hands of kids, in the trash or in a local creek or pond. We don’t need that in Maryland. Assisted suicide isn’t dignified, it’s deadly. Tell your legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Disability rights activists oppose physician-assisted suicide
Major disability rights groups including The Arc of Maryland and National Council on Disability oppose physician-assisted suicide. Disabled people already face prejudice from doctors and people who assume they’re “better dead than disabled.” Assisted suicide encourages this kind of prejudice. People with disabilities deserve care, not suicide. Tell your state legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Doctors oppose physician-assisted suicide
The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and dozens of other medical groups oppose physician-assisted suicide. The AMA says, “Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.” Physicians are entrusted with saving lives, not ending them. Tell your legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Marylanders deserve excellent pain management, not physician-assisted suicide
Maryland has excellent, modern palliative care programs to alleviate suffering – no one’s pain should be unmanageable in our state. Hospice care is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Marylanders deserve the best in pain management and quality care, not suicide drugs. Tell your legislators: NO assisted suicide. Visit mdcatholic.org/pas

Join the Maryland Catholic Advocacy Network
Our state’s General Assembly creates laws that affect us, our church, families, and vulnerable neighbors. The Maryland Catholic Advocacy Network keeps you informed and gives you a voice. You will receive action alerts on critical issues plus occasional email updates from the Maryland Catholic Conference: mdcatholic.org/joincan or text MDCATHOLIC to 52886.

Estos se pueden utilizar en cualquier momento.

¿Qué sucede realmente en un suicidio asistido por un médico?
El médico receta un cóctel letal de medicamentos (hasta 100 pastillas) que la persona recoge en la farmacia de su localidad, muele en media taza de agua y bebe en menos de dos minutos. Algunas veces, transcurren horas, o incluso días, hasta que la persona muere. Además, no se exige la presencia de testigos o notificación a la familia. El suicidio asistido no es digno, es mortífero. Dígales “no” a los legisladores de Maryland: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

El suicidio asistido por un médico incentiva la negativa a cubrir tratamientos contra el cáncer
En aquellos estados donde el suicidio asistido es legal, las compañías de seguro se han negado a cubrir tratamientos contra el cáncer, pero sí ofrecen pagar medicamentos letales. No permita que esto suceda en Maryland. Dígales “no” a los legisladores de su Estado: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

El suicidio asistido por un médico alienta el suicidio de los ancianos
En Maryland, el índice de suicidios en ancianos es mayor que en cualquier otro grupo etario, el doble que en adolescentes. Sin embargo, un proyecto de ley de suicidio asistido por un médico no exigiría evaluaciones de salud mental para detectar casos de depresión. El suicidio asistido no es digno, es mortífero. Dígales “no” a los legisladores de su Estado: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

El suicidio asistido por un médico les dice a las personas que son una carga
En Oregon, los datos revelan que las personas solicitan medicamentos letales, no tanto para aliviar el dolor, sino porque no pueden hacer las mismas actividades que realizaban antes, no pueden controlar las funciones corporales, sienten que han perdido su dignidad o se consideran una carga. Los medicamentos letales no son la respuesta. Todo ser humano merece cuidado afectuoso y compasivo, afirmación de su dignidad y saber que no es ni será una carga. Dígales “no” a los legisladores de su Estado: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

El suicidio asistido por un médico es peligroso para Maryland
Si el suicidio asistido fuera legal, a una misma persona se le podrían recetar hasta 100 pastillas. Estos medicamentos letales se venderían en la farmacia de su vecindario. Los datos revelan que, en los lugares donde el suicidio asistido es legal, el 40 % de los medicamentos queda sin utilizar, y no hay requisitos para su desecho. Podrían terminar en manos de niños, en la basura o en algún arroyo o estanque de la localidad. No necesitamos esto en Maryland. El suicidio asistido no es digno, es mortífero. Dígales “no” a sus legisladores: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

Los activistas defensores de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad se oponen al suicidio asistido por un médico
Los grupos más importantes de defensa de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad, entre ellos, The Arc of Maryland y el National Council on Disability, se oponen al suicidio médicamente asistido. Las personas con discapacidad ya enfrentan los prejuicios de médicos y personas que suponen que “es mejor estar muerto que discapacitado”. El suicidio asistido fomenta esta clase de prejuicios. Las personas con discapacidad merecen cuidado, no suicidio. Dígales “no” a los legisladores de su Estado: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

Los médicos se oponen al suicidio asistido por un médico
La American Medical Association (AMA, Asociación Médica Estadounidense), la American Psychiatric Association (Asociación Estadounidense de Psiquiatría) y decenas de otros grupos médicos se oponen al suicidio médicamente asistido. Según la AMA: “El suicidio asistido por un médico es, en esencia, incompatible con el rol del médico como sanador”. La tarea de los médicos es salvar vidas, no acabar con ellas. Dígales “no” a sus legisladores: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

Los residentes de Maryland merecen un excelente tratamiento del dolor y no el suicidio asistido por un médico
Maryland cuenta con excelentes y modernos programas de cuidados paliativos para aliviar el sufrimiento: el dolor de nadie debe ser inmanejable en nuestro Estado. Medicare, Medicaid y los seguros privados cubren la atención y los cuidados para enfermos terminales. Los residentes de Maryland merecen lo mejor en cuanto a tratamiento del dolor y cuidados de calidad, y no medicamentos letales. Dígales “no” a sus legisladores: NO al suicidio asistido. Visite mdcatholic.org/pas

Únase a la Red de Defensa Católica de Maryland
La Asamblea Legislativa de nuestro Estado sanciona leyes que nos afectan a nosotros, a nuestra Iglesia, a nuestras familias y a nuestros vecinos vulnerables. La Red de Defensa Católica de Maryland nos mantiene informados y nos da una voz. Usted recibirá información actualizada de la Conferencia Católica de Maryland (de manera ocasional, por correo electrónico), además de alertas de acción sobre los temas que elija: visite mdcatholic.org/joincan o envíe el texto MDCATHOLIC al 52886

For all who are about to die: that through our love, care, and devotion, they might know the beauty of life, as they prepare for death; We pray to the Lord:

For all people in nursing homes: that we would be inspired to visit them, and remind them of their great worth; We pray to the Lord:

For those denied adequate care: that we might stand up for their God-given dignity and assist them in their needs; We pray to the Lord:

For all who are forgotten or thrown away, and especially for the poor, the sick and the aged: that God might change our hearts and move us to love them as the image of Christ; We pray to the Lord:

For those who have grown tired of life, and especially for those tempted to suicide: that God might grant them patient endurance and the support of loved ones; We pray to the Lord:

For those tempted to despair because of constant pain: that they might join their suffering to the Cross of Christ; We pray to the Lord:

For nurses and all professionals who care for the sick and dying: that they will be given the grace to love each patient with the love of Christ, and to never see those they care for as a burden; We pray to the Lord:

For those who have grown weak or infirm: that we might see God’s power in their fragility and experience a new revelation of God’s love for them; We pray to the Lord:

For elderly parents and godparents: that the love and respect of their children might sustain them and bring them joy; We pray to the Lord:

That the sick may find strength and courage in the cross of Christ and discover the redemptive value of their suffering; We pray to the Lord:

Por todos los que están a punto de morir: para que a través de nuestro amor, cuidado y devoción, puedan conocer la belleza de la vida, mientras se preparan para la muerte; Roguemos al Señor:

Para todas las personas en hogares de ancianos: que nos inspire a visitarlos y recordarles su gran valor; Roguemos al Señor:

Para aquellos a quienes se les niega la atención adecuada: para que podamos defender su dignidad dada por Dios y ayudarlos en sus necesidades; Roguemos al Señor:

Por todos los olvidados o desechados, y especialmente por los pobres, los enfermos y los ancianos: para que Dios cambie nuestro corazón y nos mueva a amarlos como imagen de Cristo; Roguemos al Señor:

Por los que se han cansado de la vida, y especialmente por los tentados al suicidio: que Dios les conceda la paciencia y el apoyo de sus seres queridos; Roguemos al Señor:

Por los tentados a la desesperación por el dolor constante: para unir su sufrimiento a la Cruz de Cristo; Roguemos al Señor:

Por las enfermeras y todos los profesionales que atienden a los enfermos y moribundos: que se les conceda la gracia de amar a cada paciente con el amor de Cristo, y nunca ver a los que cuidan como una carga; Roguemos al Señor:

Para aquellos que se han debilitado o enfermado: para que podamos ver el poder de Dios en su fragilidad y experimentar una nueva revelación del amor de Dios por ellos; Roguemos al Señor:

Por los padres y padrinos ancianos: que el amor y el respeto de sus hijos los sostenga y les dé alegría; Roguemos al Señor:

Para que los enfermos encuentren fuerza y valor en la cruz de Cristo y descubran el valor redentor de su sufrimiento; Roguemos al Señor:

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Job 7:1-4, 6-7 | 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 | Mark 1:29-39

Key Points

• Despair and suffering are a part of life that we all experience at some point, but God has made sure that we are not alone and that suffering does not have the last word.
• While it is tempting to avoid suffering at all costs, as our society urges us to do even through practices like assisted suicide, we must be willing to accept God’s plan for our lives and allow his accompaniment to redeem and transform our suffering.
• The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering a bill to legalize assisted suicide in the state. Please contact the legislature and encourage your senator and delegates to vote no on the bill.

Additional Ideas

• In the first reading, we see Job’s intense despair over his life. So many of us can empathize with his despair. We all have or will at some point struggle with despair, whether due to the loss of a loved one, financial difficulties, an illness or any number of other challenges. Suffering is part of life. But as we see in the Gospel and as Job eventually discovers, it does not have the last word.
• God sent his son, Jesus, to suffer and die for us. In a radical way, God made himself present with us in our suffering. In the Gospel, we see Jesus healing people and casting out demons. He walks with people in their suffering, both physical and spiritual, and through his presence transforms it. Jesus continues to offer this transformative accompaniment to us today if we are willing to accept it.
• But so often we can feel like we must avoid suffering at all costs. This attitude is especially prevalent in our society today. In its elevation of pleasure as the highest good our society even seeks to legalize the practice of assisted suicide as a method of avoiding suffering. Advocates claim that assisted suicide is a compassionate option for those suffering from severe illness because a life of suffering is no longer worth living.
• However, this practice, in its desperate attempt to eliminate physical suffering, forgets that there is greater meaning to our lives beyond mere pleasure. Every one of us was created by God so that we could know and love him, and he could love us. Even in our suffering God never stops loving us – and therefore our lives continue to have meaning. By rejecting God’s plan for our lives, assisted suicide exacerbates our spiritual pain and removes the possibility of the transformative and redemptive accompaniment that we see in the Gospel.
• We must bravely reject our culture that seeks pleasure and avoids pain at all costs. Instead, we must place our trust in God, as Job does and be willing to embrace the accompaniment of Jesus found in the Gospel and its transformative effects on our suffering. Please tell your state senator and delegates to vote no on the bill to legalize physician assisted suicide so we can restore our culture’s recognition of the greater value and purpose of our lives found in our relationship with God.

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Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 | 1 Cor 10:31—11:1 | Mark 1:40-45

Key Points

• Those with severe illness are often pushed aside and discarded by society – this is how advocates of assisted suicide treat the sick, elderly, and dying.
• But Jesus calls us to a higher standard – to recognize the inherent dignity of the most sick and vulnerable in our society and support and care for them.
• The Maryland General Assembly currently is considering a bill to legalize assisted suicide – please follow Jesus’ call and contact the legislature and tell them to vote no on the bill.

Additional Ideas

• The first reading shows us how severely illness can impact people, both physically and spiritually. In ancient times, the severity and contagiousness of leprosy would force people into isolation and created a powerful stigma around lepers.
• In our own time, even with incredible medical advancements, there often is still a stigma surrounding the poor, sick and elderly. It is easy for our society, which is so focused on productivity, to label them as burdens and dismiss their lives as not worth living.
• Often, this dismissive attitude and neglect for the inherent dignity of these people is disguised as compassion. This is seen especially in advocacy for assisted suicide. Advocates claim that suicide is actually what is best for the sick person or for society as a whole. But ultimately support for assisted suicide rests on the view that the poor, sick or elderly do not have value anymore.
• In the Gospel, we see Jesus reject this view and challenge us to live up to a higher standard of compassion that recognizes the dignity and value of every human life. Despite his whole society telling him that rejection of lepers is right and despite the powerful stigma against being near them, Jesus, in a defiant recognition of the man’s inherent dignity and value, reaches out and touches the leper to heal him.
• We too are called to reach out and stand up for the inherent dignity and value of the sick and vulnerable, even while our society is telling us to reject them. The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering a bill to legalize assisted suicide in the state of Maryland. This bill treats the most sick and vulnerable in our society as burdens whose lives are no longer worth living. Let us stand up for the dignity of every person and imitate Jesus by contacting our state representatives to tell them to vote no to legalizing physician assisted suicide.

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Exodus 20:1-17 | 1 Cor 1:22-25 | John 2:13-25

Key Points

• The 10 Commandments demand more of us than it may seem on the surface – false idols can include things like money, fame or pleasure, and killing includes any failure to respect the inherent dignity of the human person.
• Our culture tends to elevate pleasure as an idol above all else, which leads it to violate the dignity of the human person by concluding that some of the most vulnerable in our society, the sick and elderly, no longer have value – people are treated as commodities, like the money changers in the temple.
• The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering a bill to legalize assisted suicide – please follow Christ’s example in the temple and tell your representatives to vote no on the bill.

Additional Ideas

• Often when we look at the list of 10 Commandments it can be easy to dismiss some of them as not really relevant to us. For instance, we might think that the commandments to not have any gods besides the one God and to not kill are pretty easily satisfied. Most of us have probably not built any golden calves or committed murder. However, these commandments include much more than the obvious prohibitions against building idols and committing murder.
• Whenever we place greater importance on something in our lives other than God we sin against the first commandment. This can be big things like fame and fortune or small things like skipping Mass to watch a football game. One of the most common false idols in our culture today is pleasure.
• Our culture emphasizes the pursuit and attainment of pleasure above all else. Pleasure has become the measure of goodness and value, so much so that some people think a life without adequate pleasure is no longer worth living. So extreme is our culture’s worship of pleasure that Maryland is now considering legalizing assisted suicide.
• This leads into the other commandment: You shall not kill. Any time we do not act in a way that respects the inherent dignity of the human person we sin against this commandment. When we treat people like commodities whose value can shift depending on their state in life, we act like the money changers in the temple whom Jesus reprimanded. We fail to acknowledge that each one of us is also a temple, with immeasurable worth given to us by God.
• Assisted suicide elevates pleasure as an idol over God and disrespects the dignity of the human person. It preys on the weak and vulnerable in our society, treating them like commodities by making judgments about some people’s lives being worth more than others. The 10 Commandments demand more than refraining from building golden calves – please reach out to your representatives in the Maryland General Assembly and ask that they vote no on the bill to legalize assisted suicide.

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2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23| Ephesians 2:4-10 | John 3:14-21

Key Points

• God loves each of us completely and unconditionally – we are his handiwork, which gives us inherent dignity and value.
• Advocates of assisted suicide attempt to disguise the practice as compassionate “aid in dying” but the reality is it treats some people’s lives as worth less than others by permitting the active killing of the most vulnerable.
• The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering a bill to legalize assisted suicide. Please embrace God’s love for each of us, his handiwork, and contact your delegate and senator and tell them to vote no on the bill.

Additional Ideas

• In the second reading and the Gospel today, we see just how much God loves us. We hear about how God decided to send his only Son to save us from our sins, purely out of his abundance of mercy and his love for us. We are reminded that God loves us no matter what, “even when we were dead in our transgressions.” There is nothing we can do and nothing that can happen to us that will make God stop loving us and make us lose our worth.
• Additionally, we hear at the end of the second reading that “we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Each one of us was made specially by God in his own image and likeness. Because of this, every single one of us has immeasurable value and an inherent dignity that can never go away.
• There are some people in our society, however, who refuse to acknowledge the dignity and value of some of the most vulnerable members of our community. They look at the elderly, the sick, and the dying, and rather than seeing the incredible beauty and value of their lives as beings that are made by and loved by God, they dismiss them as better off dead.
• However, as the Gospel warns us, “everyone who does wicked things hates the light.” So the advocates of assisted suicide attempt to disguise the evil of the practice. Some Maryland legislators refer to it as “aid in dying” so that it may sound compassionate and be confused with the legitimate practice of palliative care or hospice. However, whereas palliative care and hospice respect the dignity of the human person by providing pain relief to those with serious terminal illnesses, the “aid in dying” proposed by the Maryland General Assembly would legalize the active killing of those with serious illnesses.
• Assisted suicide fails to respect the inherent dignity of the human person that comes from our being the handiwork of God who loves each one of us unconditionally, whether we are healthy or seriously ill. Advocates attempt to disguise the practice as compassionate, but the reality is that it declares some people’s lives to be worth less than others. Please reach out to your representatives in the Maryland General Assembly and tell them to vote no on this bill to legalize assisted suicide.