Bishops Join Faithful

Bishop Charles C. Thompson of Evansville and Bishop Timothy L. Doherty of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana joined Catholics from across the diocese on Oct. 9 for the diocesan Respect Life Celebration. Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt hosted the event, which drew more than 150 people.

Sponsored by Catholic Charities, the annual event recognizes and honors Respect Life Coordinators and Committees from parishes across the diocese. Bishop Thompson concelebrated Mass with Bishop Doherty and nine priests of the diocese – Father Tony Ernst, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish; Father Sudhakar Bhastati, associate pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul; Father Crispin Adongo, associate pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Evansville; Father Ken Betz, pastor of St. James Parish in Haubstadt; Father Ray Brenner, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper; Father Claude Burns, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Posey County; Father Bernie Etienne, pastor of Holy Rosary; Father Ralph Schipp, retired priest of the diocese; and Father Lowell Will, pastor of St. Clement Parish in Boonville.

Bishop Thompson noted that the theme for 2014 Respect Life Month is “Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation.”

“As we gather here tonight,” he said, “we seek to be instruments of comfort to the afflicted from the moment of conception to natural death; but we also are here tonight to allow the word of God – to allow this message of Respect Life Month – to maybe afflict some of our comfort. We need to be challenged as much as we seek to challenge.”

“As we seek to defend life … as we seek to promote the dignity and sacredness of persons, there’s no room for arrogance,” Bishop Thompson continued, referring to Pope Francis’ homily to participants during the opening Mass of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, which continues this week at the Vatican. “We must promote and proclaim the dignity of life with humility, with trust, with courage, with openness, and in dialogue – speaking and listening – with our gaze always on that of Jesus.”

After dinner, which followed the Mass, Bishop Doherty discussed capital punishment, euthanasia and the care of those in their final days.

“How do we treat people because of their dignity?” he asked. “And if we ourselves are reflections of that dignity, how do we act? Do we measure dignity in one way for euthanasia discussions, another way for capital punishment, another way for abortion on demand, another way for the military use of armed drones?”

 “There are unintended consequences of capital punishment,” he continued. “Apart from the proven mistaken convictions of accused murderers, it also degrades – I think – the people who execute people in my name and yours.”

In discussing euthanasia, Bishop Doherty noted a significant connection that many might not consider. “In order to grant the right to physician-assisted suicide,” he said, “the law has to obligate someone somewhere to help me end my life. That is one of the damaging elements of the whole euthanasia discussion in this country. Imposing that obligation on a nurse, a physician, a pharmacist, a spouse or a public official … what does this do to the integrity of those other vocations?”

He concluded by talking about issues related to caregivers. “There are people who refuse to believe that there is a natural course of events and that death to us is not the enemy” Bishop Doherty said. “Certainly, we never want to hasten it. (But) … if you are helping someone at the end of life and you have done everything right, there is a mistaken belief that you won’t feel awful when that person passes. There is some kind of mistaken belief that doing everything possible will relieve you of the heartbreak when you can’t help that person any more, and when they go off to meet God.”

While taking audience questions following his presentation, Bishop Doherty emphasized the need to make your wishes known in advance, and enabling someone to make those wishes known when appropriate and necessary.

“Pick an agent to speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself,” he said. “Have an agent who will be legally recognized in a hospital to give directives in your behalf.” He added that it was just as important to provide advanced directives so that agents would know they are acting as you would … if you could.