(no subject)

[rivka]

I'm going to be preaching at my church on July 11. In fact, with the help of a Worship Associate (who presumably will know what he or she is doing, one hopes - because I don't), I'll be doing the whole service.

I kind of can't believe I got myself into this.

The title of my sermon is "Life Or Death Situations." I'm going to talk about my experiences working with people who are terminally ill and and people who are suicidal. The scary part, for me, is that I am going to talk about why assisted suicide is problematic and why I believe that endorsement of assisted suicide is contrary to UU religious values. I don't think that will be a popular opinion in my church.

I met with our minister yesterday to talk about it. He is very encouraging, and has promised me any support I need. But it's still going to come down to me writing a sermon and then standing up to deliver it, in front of a whole bunch of people who probably don't want to hear what I have to say.

I know there are several ministers and lay religious leaders who read my LJ; any advice you have would be incredibly helpful.

Comments

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

Here in the UK we're in the aftermath of an election, and the likely future government is a party which seems to want to hugely cut back on the state-funded support for the frail and elderly. An acquaintance, who works in this area of healthcare, thinks that some of the elderly, still with their wits, might think suicide is the only way to have assets left to pass on to the next generation.

It's not just the immediate moral issue, there's so much else it can interact with.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

An acquaintance, who works in this area of healthcare, thinks that some of the elderly, still with their wits, might think suicide is the only way to have assets left to pass on to the next generation.

Yes, I think this plays a significant role here in the US as well - probably more so, given that even with Medicare (government health insurance for elderly and disabled people) you are still likely to burden your heirs with substantial medical bills.

There are many realistic fears/concerns that could lead someone who is terminally ill to think suicide is their best option: fear that pain will go uncontrolled, fear that you will lose your ability to communicate and be subjected to unwanted life-extending procedures, fear of dying alone in the ICU instead of at home surrounded by your loved ones.

It isn't that I think these concerns are not legitimate; I know that they are. It's that I think we need to fix them, not throw up our hands and say "we aren't willing to make our society a better place for you to die in your own time, so the compassionate thing is to help you kill yourself now."

[telerib.livejournal.com]

you are still likely to burden your heirs with substantial medical bills.

Only if your next-of-kin is a spouse, I think. Otherwise, creditors get first cut at the estate, but if that doesn't pay the bills, they go begging. (Legally, anyway. They might try and scare money out of folks.)

(FWIW, I'm on the fence on the issue, leaning towards your side of it.)