Religion Briefs : Cardinal Asks Congress to Oppose Right to Die

Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago asked Congress this week to support a sense-of-the-Congress resolution opposing the right to die.

In a letter to all members of Congress, Bernardin, chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the resolution would give Congress an opportunity to take a stand against a “misguided campaign” to legalize physician-assisted euthanasia and “rational” suicide.

Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) is sponsoring the non-binding resolution, which calls for a greater appreciation of the inherent value of human life and for improved efforts at the state and national levels to prevent suicide.