Catholics for Compassion is a group of faithful Catholics committed to expanding end-of-life options for individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Many know firsthand the pain of watching loved ones die long, slow, painful deaths and hope that future patients and their families will have more options available to relieve pain and suffering.
Catholics for Compassion advises Compassion & Choices on Catholic engagement and supports the organization in coordinating clear, passionate, but respectful actions and messages to equip Catholics and their families who are facing questions about suffering and the end of life.
We periodically engage with specific tactics and activities that build support for pro-medical aid in dying policies in key states, for instance through joining sign-on letters, submitting op-Eds, or letters to the editor, contacting policymakers, and when future conditions allow, visiting legislative offices. This is all based on each person’s interests, comfort level, etc.
We acknowledge and respect the concerns of the Catholic Church and faithful Catholics regarding the practice of medical aid in dying. We believe, however, that faithful Catholics need to be fully informed and have all of the options available to them so that they can together with their families make decisions informed by their faith.
We hope that by sharing our personal stories and providing resources to others about how our faith informs our views and why we volunteer with Catholics for Compassion, we will help people feel like they are not alone as they work through suffering through terminal illness or supporting a family member who is doing so.
We want others to know that faithful Catholics support all end of life options being available to all people in the final chapter of their life so that they and their families can decide what is best for them.
End-of-life care is specialized healthcare delivered in the final months or years of one’s life. Types of end-of-life care include:
My wife chose to end her life after battling cancer. Now I fight for others to have that choice – Brittany Maynard’s Catholic widower, Dan Diaz, shares his wife’s experiences with navigating access to aid-in-dying, and discusses the Church’s opposition to medical aid in dying despite support among the Catholic community at large.
Terminally Ill, He Wanted Aid-In-Dying. His Catholic Hospital Said No. – An individual suffering from terminal cancer sought to access medical aid in dying at the Catholic hospital where he was treated.
Medical Emergency: The Church-State Wall Has Collapsed When It Comes To End-Of-Life Care – An op-ed by Compassion & Choices’ President and CEO, Kim Callinan, on the lack of separation between church and state in health care and when navigating access to end-of-life care.
At Catholic Hospitals, a ‘Right to Life’ but Not a Right to Death – This article discusses the conflict that arises in 5 states where medical aid in dying is legal, but is prohibited by Catholic hospitals.
Why this Catholic physician supports medical aid in dying – A Catholic physician attempts to dispel the myths associated with medical aid in dying that were popularized by the Church.
Read more about the support of Catholic lawmakers here – This article from 2016 features the perspectives of prominent Catholic legislators in New Jersey who have broken with the Church to support a state bill that would allow medical aid in dying.
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
