Ask deacon mike

I had planned to conclude my reflection on the Eucharist this month. However, this past Sunday I received a message from someone and I think I should address it as soon as possible. Keep reading and you will understand.

The person wrote: I have been diagnosed with cancer and I have a question. Do I, as a Catholic, have to commit to treatment? What exactly are the Catholic guidelines for preserving life? If I am going to die anyway, why should I prolong my life with treatments that will only delay the inevitable? I want to meet Jesus. Am I committing a sin by NOT taking treatments?

The person actually asks four questions. Let me start with the last one. God, and God alone, is the giver of life. Therefore only God can take life. To deny, prohibit or take a life is a grave sin. The most fundamental moral norm in dealing with end-of-life decisions is that we may never directly take innocent human life, including our own. That has been the Church’s teaching from the beginning. However, these types of issues are never black or white. This is no exception.

In this particular case I do not have enough information to be specific. However, there are guidelines that cover this. It has to do with the quality of life. I found a very helpful web site that addresses these issues. It is called: A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions. An Explanation of Church Teaching on Advance Directives, Euthanasia, and Physician Assisted Suicide. It is provided by the National Catholic Bioethics Center and can be found at www.ncbcenter.org/eol.asp.

There is not enough space here to copy the entire pamphlet so I strongly urge this person and anyone else who wants to learn more about these issues to check it out. But let me give you a brief synopsis of what it says. There is a redemptive aspect to suffering. Jesus suffered and died. He accepted this as His Father’s will so that we might be saved from our sins. The key here is that Jesus accepted His sufferings. We are given the same opportunity from God. While it is not God’s will that we develop cancer or other diseases, God does allow us to suffer as a means of growing closer to Him by placing our total dependence on His mercy.

The question becomes: What is morally obligatory and what is morally optional. Generally, a medical procedure that carries with it little hope of benefit and is burdensome is deemed "extraordinary" and is not obligatory. The decision, however, is not in the hands of the patient alone. If the person is competent then they must confer with their physician, their family and their clergy before making this decision. This is the framework from which a Catholic must consider their options. If treatment will not lead to relief, if it will only prolong life with much pain and suffering then the person is not obliged to accept treatments.

As I said before there is not enough information provided to make a clear recommendation. I ask that this person contact Fr. Roncase or me as soon as possible so that we can discuss the situation in a respectful, prayerful manner. We would need to know the opinions of the medical team treating this person, the feelings of the family and most importantly the needs of the patient. We also need to remember that the end of earthly life is not the total end. There is no total end or death. Our Catholic faith teaches us that when we pass from this life we have the hope of eternal life in the glory of God’s Kingdom. That is why God gave us life, so that we might be one with Him in heaven.

I ask all of you who read this to pray for this person and all others who are in similar situations. Ask God to provide wisdom, strength and faith for them that they may know His will. From my personal experience I can share this story with you. I just read today of the death of a 91 year old woman from my parish back home. About 11 years ago she came to me. She was alone, tired, sickly and afraid. She very much wanted to die. At first I did not know what to say to her. Fortunately the Holy Spirit gave me the words. I told her that maybe God had something for her to do before she died. I suggested that it was as simple as devoting her remaining days to praying for all of us. She thought about it and accepted that I could be right. She went to Mass and Holy Communion nearly every day. In doing so she found a new community of support and love. She lived another 11 years with purpose. She was able to put her personal sufferings in perspective and she grew even closer to Our Lord. I know that when she died this past Sunday that it must have been a joyous reunion in heaven.

If you have questions about our Catholic faith, the Church or sacraments please let me know. You can send your questions to me at the parish office or drop them off in the collection on Sunday (as did the person who asked these questions) or you can write to me at deaconmikefranks@verizon.net. May God bless you and always remember that I love you all. Deacon Mike