More on I-1000, Life, and Death...

Last week, I wrote a post detailing my father's death and how every single moment with him, from diagnosis till death, though often difficult, was precious. I wouldn't have traded it for the world, and I know that my father wouldn't have either. To me, it was the quintessential argument against I-1000, the assisted suicide aka death with "dignity" measure on the ballot here in Washington State.

Tonight, I went to a Happy Hour talk at a local pub, where our priest and dear friend, Fr. Tom Kraft, OP, shared with us his thoughts on I-1000. Fr. Tom spoke with a unique perspective -- one that I hope, none of us will ever come to know, but sadly, one that many of us will have to experience at some point or another. You see, Fr. Tom has cancer -- he was diagnosed with Stage IVb esophageal cancer in February. He underwent six rounds of palliative chemotherapy that staved off the cancer for a while, and then took a two-month "chemo vacation". In those two months, his cancer advanced and became more aggressive. Fr. Tom now has tumors in his esophagus, stomach, liver, and lungs. He is dying.

Honestly, it scares the hell out of me that we're going to lose him. I love Fr. Tom and have come to think of him as my stronghold here in Seattle. It scares me even more to think that he might suffer, that he is already suffering.

Tonight, Fr. Tom spoke of his suffering, and of the redemptive value of suffering. As believers, suffering brings us closer to Christ, even if we don't understand the why of it. Fr. Tom spoke, too, of the importance of valuing life from its natural beginning to its natural end. It was a great personal and theological talk. And then he said something absolutely profound. Something that should make sense whether or not you're a Christian. Something that should appeal to the common bond in us all: humanity.

"What becomes the law, becomes the norm.
And what becomes the norm, becomes moral."

(The quote, I believe, is attributed to a one Fr. Spitzer...)
Do we really want to elevate suicide to a morally good status?! An acceptable status?! That's eventually what will happen if I-1000 passes. Take for instance, the example of Barbara Wagner in Oregon, where assisted suicide has been legal for 10 years. She was suffering from end-stage lung cancer and was prescribed palliative chemotherapy. The Oregon Health Plan denied her request for chemotherapy -- in the very same letter, they offered her suicide pills. Seriously! Barbara Wagner is not the only person who has received such a letter. Suicide, according to the Oregon Health Plan, it seems, is the morally good (not to mention cheaper) option.

Proponents of I-1000 will tell you that everyone should have the right to choose whether they want to live or die. Ok. So, let's go with that argument for a moment. Well, what about Barbara Wagner? What about the others on the Oregon Health Plan who have been denied life-lengthening palliative chemotherapy? Where was their choice?! They chose to live and their choice was stripped away from them by a money-grubbing insurance company. So, really, what is being touted as a "choice" is no choice at all. It is doing nothing more than yanking control from the poor, the impoverished, the marginalized, and the weak and is pushing them towards suicide.

Do we really want this to happen in Washington as well?!

NO!

HELL NO!!

Please, just think about it (especially if you're voting in Washington State).