It is Not Over!

I knew it was almost certain that it would happen.  Yet I was disappointed to learn Saturday morning that the New York State Legislature had passed the amendments to the “Medical Aid in Dying Act (MAID)” requested by Governor Hochul and that she had signed the bill. While I knew it was almost certain that this would happen, I was still disappointed.  (For a news article on the passing of the bill, see “Hochul adjusts, signs assisted-suicide bill; concerns remain” by Jennifer Burke, Catholic Courier, February 9, 2026)   

Why was I disappointed?  There are three reasons.  First, I was greatly disappointed that I had seen absolutely no news coverage to say that the NYS Legislature was acting on the amendments last week.  It seems to me like the news media did not care.  How could they not care?  

The second reason for my disappointment is that I was trying to hold onto some earthly hope that when the legislature went to act on the amendments, there would be enough opposition to keep assisted suicide from being legalized in New York State.  Last year there were state legislators who voted against the bill.  Where are they now?  Have they given up the battle?   

The third reason for my disappointment is the simple fact that assisted suicide will now be legal in New York State.  Life is not valued here as it should be.  Life is a gift from God.  God is the author of life, not us.  When are those who supported the efforts to legalize assisted suicide going to understand this? 

The legal battle, at least for now, over assisted suicide in New York State is over.  I stress the legal battle because all is not lost. 

This is not the first time I have said that the legal battle is over but I will not give up in the battle in support of life in New York State.  In November of 2024, New York State passed an amendment to the state constitution enshrining abortion and other modern rights into the state constitution.  At that time, I wrote, “Please note that I said it is legally settled.  This does not mean our efforts to proclaim what our faith teaches on the issues involved in NYS Proposal should end” (“Where Do We Go From Here?”). 

I say the same thing about assisted suicide now.  The legal battle may be over but we can still share our Catholic understanding of why assisted suicide is wrong.   

We might wonder if anyone listened to those of us who expressed opposition to assisted suicide.  As I prayed this morning, I was reminded of God’s words to Samuel when the people requested a king, “You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king” (1 Samuel 8:7).  We must continue to work to share what God is put into our hearts. 

In November 2024, I wrote, “Now, with the election over, our efforts need to move from advocating against NYS Proposal I to changing people’s hearts.  If we can lead people’s hearts to come to understand the problems of the issues involved in the changes to our state constitution and reject the immoral behaviors, it won’t matter if it is legal.  If people understand and accept what our Catholic faith teaches on these issues, legal or not, they will not seek out the immoral acts” (“Where Do We Go From Here?”).   

Likewise, our work against assisted suicide is not a legal battle now.  It is a moral battle for life and a spiritual battle for the dignity of all life.  It is also a spiritual battle for the salvation of souls of those who support assisted suicide. 

In November 2024 I wrote, “So, what are we to do now?” (“Where Do We Go From Here?”).  I ask the same question regarding assisted suicide now.   

The answer starts with prayer.  Once again, we turn to the words of 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”  We pray for a change of heart in our government leaders (and all who support assisted suicide).  I was hoping that the legislators who had previously voted for the bill would have a change of heart when they began to act on the amendments proposed by Governor Hochul (see my article, “The Governor’s Announcement”).  Unfortunately, the change of heart I have been hoping for did not happen this week.  That does not mean it will not happen for nothing is impossible for God (see Luke 1:37).  With faith in God, there is always hope. 

The change of heart I pray for could still happen in our government officials.  Even if it does not happen in them, we can work to help people understand why assisted suicide is wrong. (see Part III of my series of presentations, Treating Life with Dignity and Love).  It may be legal but that does not mean people have to choose it.  We can show them a better way. 

The better way of which I speak is genuine compassion offered through comfort care homes and hospice services that respect life.  The better way involves giving our support to palliative care so that those suffer pain can have their pain relieved without killing them.  We need to support comfort care homes individually, as a Church, and we need to seek government support for comfort care.  We can advocate for insurance companies to support comfort care homes and hospice services that do not seek to end life before its appointed time for death (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).   

We can no longer be silent for, as I said in my homily this past Sunday, we have been silent too long. 

We need to find a path to real dialogue. (see my reflection from Fratelli Tutti, “Seeking Real Dialogue”).  We need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the right words to say (see Mark 13:11). 

Now is not the time to give up.  I feel called to continue to stand for the dignity of every life and I intend to do just that.  (You can find other articles by me supporting life by going to the “Catholic Morality and Sexuality” page on my website and scrolling down to the Pro-Life section).   

Will you stand up for life? 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff