Pope St John Paul II (1920-2005) is often referred to as “the Pope of life.” Throughout his Pontificate of nearly twenty-eight years, he spoke clearly and consistently defending life at all stages, from conception until death. As the Assisted Suicide Bill will have its second reading in Parliament next Friday 29^th November, it is well worth looking over some of the things he said on euthanasia, assisted suicide and human suffering. Here are some quotes from his writings and sermons:

“Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing “perversion” of mercy. True “compassion” leads to sharing another’s pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear.”

“Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.”

 “Your sufferings, accepted and borne with unshakable faith, when joined to those of Christ take on extraordinary value for the life of the Church and the good of humanity.”

“In the light of Christ’s death and resurrection, illness no longer appears as an exclusively negative event … Rather, it is seen … as an opportunity ‘to release love …, to transform the whole of human civilisation into a civilisation of love’.”

 “As believers, how can we fail to see that abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are a terrible rejection of God’s gift of life and love? And as believers, how can we fail to feel the duty to surround the sick and those in distress with the warmth of our affection and the support that will help them always to embrace life?”

“A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; and amongst the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.”

“The legal toleration of abortion or of euthanasia can in no way claim to be based on respect for the conscience of others, precisely because society has the right and the duty to protect itself against the abuses which can occur in the name of conscience and under the pretext of freedom.”

“Euthanasia and assisted suicide are never acceptable acts of mercy. They always gravely exploit the suffering and desperate, extinguishing life in the name of the ‘quality of life’ itself.”

“Never tire of firmly speaking out in defence of life from its conception, and do not be deterred from the commitment to the dignity of every human person with courageous determination. Christ is with you: do not be afraid!”

Finally, St John Paul II always sought the help of Our Lady, especially for the sick and dying. He wrote on 12^th February 2004, the World Day of the Sick: “I entrust all of you to the Most Holy Virgin … may she help every Christian to witness that the only authentic answer to pain, suffering and death, is Christ our Lord, Who died and rose for us.”

Fr Paul Gillham, IC