Why was I made?
by Bishop Edwin M. Conway

One of the fertile founts for the cynical satirist or late night comedian is quoting the Baltimore Catechism. It seems that the pithy and pointed annunciation of the truths of the Church either lacks the “color” of modern discourse or is very forceful in its message and therefore is best handled by the critic through humor or satire. The laughter, however, in no way dilutes or defuses the truth or the message.

During most of the century just past any young or old member of the Church could be questioned “Why did God make me?” The answer from the catechism would proudly have been given, “to know Him, to love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.”

While this response may sound simplistic, uncomplicated and in need of some “marketing tweaking,” it is at the center of the meaning of life and the call to discipleship. The challenge of dealing with the realities of suffering, death and eternal life is the direct corollary flowing from this response.

The Catholic Bishops of Illinois recently published a pastoral letter, “Facing the End of Life,” because of the importance of the issue and the need of Catholics and others to reflect upon this challenge. The bishops state, “When we think about death and dying, it is hard to find meaning and hope if we forget our faith.”

Pope John Paul II reminds us in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae: “… At the same time, it is precisely this supernatural calling which highlights the relative character of each individual’s earthly life. After all, life on earth is not an “ultimate” but a ‘penultimate’ reality; even so, it remains a sacred reality entrusted to us, to be preserved with a sense of responsibility and brought to perfection in love and in the gift of ourselves to God and to our brothers and sisters” (Ev. Vitae, 2)

As you read the pastoral you will encounter the bishops’ discussion of what they believe; what the role of medical care should be at the end of life; what the place of suffering should be; and who should control key decisions involving issues of death and dying. Ours is a culture that values independence, autonomy and individuality. These values sometimes become so forceful and dynamic that the person becomes unrealistically controlling. The control even obscures a divine role, mastery over the beginning of life and its ending. God’s role is reduced to that of some sort of grandfather or benign superintendent. With this attitude in place the notion of vulnerability, suffering, death or/and weakness becomes unexplainable and unmanageable. When faced with these “limitations” we are offered an opportunity of God’s healing grace. Many individuals at times are distracted and misguided in their pursuit of money, pleasure and personal advancement rather than attending to their relationship with God. A missed opportunity of grace can be turned into a painful period of anxiety and despair.

The bishops reflect, “There are two extremes that must be avoided. The first is an attitude that one can end life, either by action, like a lethal injection, aimed at killing a patient or by deliberately withholding therapy with the goal of bringing about a person’s death. The second extreme mistakes our respect for the value of life with vitalism, the erroneous belief that our life on earth has absolute value and all means must be taken for its preservation.”

The bishops recommend several steps that can help patients and their families with end-of-life decisions. They call for improved access to health care and a judicious use of advance directives to assist health care professionals in making decisions about care in the event the patient is unable to participate in the decision-making process. In addition, the bishops recommend that Catholics and their health care providers consult the National Catholic Bishops’ principles that assist family members and their physicians in making the necessary moral and ethical decisions on the provision of artificial feeding and hydration.

In formulating the pastoral letter, the bishops took great care to put the issues of pain and suffering in the correct context. They strongly advise that pain should be treated aggressively and that health care providers have an obligation to comfort the dying with the use of appropriate symptom control. The letter reaffirms the Catholic Church’s opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide, but makes clear that such opposition should not be confused as an endorsement of needless suffering and the unnecessary prolonging of life.

The Compassionate Care Committee of the Illinois Catholic Health Association has worked for two years to create a voice and gather tools to deal with the issues at the end of life. The pastoral’s publication was itself prompted by the concern of the Committee. It also has supported Jesuit Father Myles Sheehan, associate dean of Loyola Medical School, in his efforts to create a curriculum which assist doctors and other health care staff in learning the proper and qualitative way of providing palliative care to the seriously ill and dying.

As the bishops state several times in the pastoral letter, life and death are truly only understood in the light of faith. We can seize the opportunity to integrate the grace flowing from the realizations of these threatening “limitations” by entering into quiet prayer and reflection. Through this process of prayer and reflection we can gradually turn from exaggerated individualism to discipleship and openness to the healing power of God. As we develop sufficient spiritual courage and wisdom we then can move on to discuss the issues with our family and friends.

Cardinal George’s comment on issuing the letter provides us with a fitting conclusion. “The pastoral letter is placed before you with the realization that much more could be stated theologically, psychologically and medically regarding end of life issues. However, this pastoral is issued as a means of beginning a conversation. Many people in our society have yet to embrace the notion that God is the author of life, the protector of life and the One who calls us to eternal life.”

A copy of the pastoral “Facing the End of Life” can be obtained from the offices of the Illinois Catholic Health Association at (312) 368-0011, or from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Web site: www.archdiocese-chgo.org

Bishop Edwin M. Conway

(Cardinal George's Column will return)