Dutch Priest Refuses Funeral for Man Who Chose Euthanasia

[AnotherVoice]

I certainly support this priest and his bishop.

In reading further on in the article I found this quote particularly upsetting:

“Father van der Sluis’ decision has not only riled parishioners, but also the local church council.
Council members have demanded that Father van der Sluis apologize to the dead man’s family. The council has also put a fundraising campaign to repair the church organ on hold until the priest complies with its request.”

I hope that Fr. Van der Sluis invites the local church council to pick up their check books and whatever other sorry belongings they may have and leave. In my opinion, if you can’t support the priest and bishop after they have explained the churche’s position; you should leave. If you try to blackmail the church; you should be thrown out.

 

[jmcrae]

I had meant a Catholic Funeral. And I think it is terrible that when this family is already hurt by the death of a loved one,

How can they be “hurt” when it is likely themselves that administered the lethal injection? He did not die by accident - they killed him on purpose, with his agreement. This is not a sad case of nature taking its course, or an unexpected accident. He was murdered on purpose. His family and himself agreed to this murder, and cooperated with it.

If someone is dying and is in unbearable pain,

a good doctor will recommend appropriate pain therapy; not killing the patient as if he were a sick dog or an injured horse. Nor should the patient lower himself to the status of an animal, and nor should his family allow this. We must uphold the dignity of the human person, not only when it is convenient, but also, and especially, when it is inconvenient.

 

[jmcrae]

How does his action promote Catholic Doctrine? By fear?

The best way to educate is through our actions and responses. By not allowing him to have a Catholic funeral, the world is learning that you can’t remain a Catholic in good standing, while at the same time allowing yourself to be put down like a sick dog.

 

[antonivs]

My uncle who was dying of cancer was put into a hospice. They put him on pain killers and cut off all food and fluids. They basically starved him do death. How does that differ from Euthanasia?

For the record, he was given “Last Rights”.

 

[jmcrae]

My uncle who was dying of cancer was put into a hospice. They put him on pain killers and cut off all food and fluids. They basically starved him do death. How does that differ from Euthanasia?

For the record, he was given “Last Rights”.

I think you meant “Last Rites.”

There is a huge difference between cutting off food and fluids to a healthy person, and stopping giving fluids and food once the digestive tract has stopped functioning - are you quite sure he was healthy enough to take food and water when they cut him off? (If he was, then if I were you, and it were someone I loved, I would charge them with murder.)

Even if they murdered him, though, it’s different from Euthanasia, because with Euthanasia, you are actually asking the people to kill you, and not slowly, with letting nature take its course over a period of time, but rather, very fast with a needle injection of poison, same as what is given to sick animals.

 

[Petergee]

How can they be “hurt” when it is likely themselves that administered the lethal injection? He did not die by accident - they killed him on purpose, with his agreement. This is not a sad case of nature taking its course, or an unexpected accident. He was murdered on purpose. His family and himself agreed to this murder, and cooperated with it.

And very likely the family financially benefitted from the murder/suicide too. (Caring lovingly for a sick person, for maybe months or years, can cost a lot of money and significantly reduce the estate he leaves to his beneficiaries when he eventually dies.)

 

[Petergee]

I hope that Fr. Van der Sluis invites the local church council to pick up their check books and whatever other sorry belongings they may have and leave. In my opinion, if you can’t support the priest and bishop after they have explained the churche’s position; you should leave. If you try to blackmail the church; you should be thrown out.

Unfortunately we will probably be seeing a lot more of this sort of pressure and attempted blackmail of the Church in Western countries, over this and many other issues.

 

[Ender]

The best way to educate is through our actions and responses.

The choice for the priest was either to act as if he believes what the Church teaches and deny the funeral or, by giving the funeral, deny that he believes what the Church teaches.

Ender