My dear brothers and sisters,
For months we have been hearing about the “precious souls,” we as a family in New Jersey, have sadly lost due to the coronavirus. The number of deaths, particularly amongst our nursing home communities, has been especially disturbing. Everyone has been called upon to sacrifice and to do their part in slowing the spread of this deadly virus.
To help save lives, we are urged, even mandated, to wear masks and practice social distancing. Ironically, while the pandemic has us focused on saving lives, on Aug. 1, we marked the one-year anniversary of the enactment of New Jersey’s so-called “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill” Act, a law that enables some people to take their own life.
Every suicide, including state-sanctioned suicide, is tragic and, as Catholics, we oppose its practice. Our faith tells us, “We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of…” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2280).
We believe that all life is a gift from God and that every person has inherent and inalienable dignity because we are made in God’s image and likeness. Young or old, healthy or sick, all human life is precious. When any human life, especially the weakest, is devalued by society it promotes a devaluing of all human life. We know that this is the same foundation of our belief and efforts to eliminate racism from our midst, too, and recommit ourselves to join with others in our state to do all that we can to proclaim the truth that every life is sacred.
As Christians, we have a “duty to care” for the sick and dying. Instead, the inherent abuses of laws, like the physician-assisted suicide act, often make the sick and elderly feel they have a “duty to die.” This has been exacerbated over recent months by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought a raft of new stressors including loss of community and social isolation that has been especially difficult for the elderly and the sick and for their families. Sadly, some reports indicate a rise in suicides as well as an increase in requests for medically assisted death.
In the face of these trying times, our need for compassionate care is more important than ever. We are now challenged with finding creative new ways to provide tender accompaniment for those who are sick or near the end of life so that no one feels compelled to choose assisted suicide.
We cannot be complacent and just accept that physician assisted suicide is the law now in our state. Let us pray and work for a society here in New Jersey that will stand against what Pope Francis has called a “throw away culture” and that we might embrace what St. John Paul II called “the way of love and true mercy” — a readiness to surround patients with love, support, and companionship, whether in-person or virtually, providing the assistance needed to ease their physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering, always anchored in an unconditional respect for all human life.
We are blessed with our own diocesan sponsored Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, which is known for this type of compassionate care. We count on our faithful and all people of good will to join in this effort to make our state one we can be proud to be a part of.
While we continue to promote the sacredness of all human life, especially during this pandemic, it is important to note that we are indebted to our medical professionals and all who have been heroic in their efforts to care for those sick and dying from the virus, as well as those working around the clock to find a vaccine that will eliminate COVID -19.
I am most grateful, too, knowing that our diocese can count on you, as you are always so generous in putting your faith into good works. Thanks to your support of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal I can report we have reached 97 percent of our goal, even without an in-pew solicitation this year. One of the major services funded by the appeal is our diocese’s Catholic Charities.
Since the pandemic started, our Catholic Charities has given out $1.3 million in rental assistance and more than $100,000 worth of food assistance. In Unity Square in New Brunswick, it has helped more than 900 households with more than 2,000 bags of food, while the Food Pantry we run in Phillipsburg has given out more than 3,800 bags of food serving almost 1,500 people who have come for assistance. This is in addition to what our parishes and St. Vincent de Paul Societies have done through our parishes.
The economic impact of this pandemic has hurt the poorest amongst us, but others have felt its effects, too. Thank you for making this possible, but if you have not contributed as yet, it’s not too late to help, if you are able. Fortunately, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is still receiving gifts and matching gifts from corporations, too.
I want to assure you of my daily thoughts and prayers. I truly miss being in our parishes and praying with you and seeing you. I ask for remembrance in your prayers for me too that I might be the shepherd you so deserve and need during this time. God bless you!
Most Reverend James F. Checchio,
JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen