A Californian Judge Paves the Way to an Abrogation of the Law on Assisted Suicide
A Californian judge has overturned the State law authorizing assisted suicide, claiming that it is “not a good law”. The United States Bishops’ Conference immediately hailed this promising decision.
The law voted in in 2015 became effective in California in June 2016; it authorizes doctors to prescribe the “lethal cocktail” to any patient with a serious illness who wishes to end his or her life.
Judge Daniel Ottolia of the Riverside County Superior Court, ruled on May 16, 2018, that the new law goes against the State’s general law on health care and therefore cannot be applied.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops reacted immediately:
We celebrate the news that the CA law legalizing assisted suicide has – for now – been overturned. Assisted suicide is not health care. We pray that this ruling will stand and that lawmakers will rethink this tragic mistake, reject assisted suicide and protect all patients.
It is now up to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to make his move. He has until May 21, Pentecost Monday, to appeal Judge Ottolia’s decision: may the Holy Ghost enlighten him.
Sources: Catholic Herald / FSSPX.News – 5/18/2018
