CARDINAL AGAINST 'CULTURE OF DEATH' BILL WOULD ALLOW DOCTOR-ASSISTED SUICIDE.

Byline: TROY ANDERSON

Staff Writer

Cardinal Roger Mahony asked Catholics on Monday to fight a "culture of death" and oppose an Assembly bill that would allow doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

Speaking during a noontime Mass marking the second anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, Mahony said the popular pontiff had expressed concerns about the growing "culture of death" in the United States.

"We have a new danger and a new assault," Mahony said during his homily at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

"If Pope John Paul II was still standing with us, he would hold up this bill and say, 'We must not go down this path."'

Mahony also said he has met with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, who is supporting the bill sponsored by Assembly members Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, and Patty Berg, D-Santa Rosa.

"We should be troubled that Fabian Nunez -- who has worshipped here in this cathedral and is a Catholic -- somehow has not understood and grasped the culture of life but has allowed himself to get swept into this other direction, the culture of death," Mahony said.

Nunez spokesman Steve Maviglio issued a statement in response to Mahony's criticism.

"While he respects the cardinal's view, this is another issue of individual choice where the overwhelming majority of Catholics have a different perspective than the official position of the church," the statement said. "Personal liberty and dignity are important values to Californians, regardless of their religious beliefs."

Modeled after Oregon's decade-old assisted-suicide law, AB 374 was approved last week by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. It would allow adults diagnosed with a terminal disease to be given a prescription for life-ending drugs.

Opponents worry the law will be abused and that people with disabilities will be pressured to end their lives because of high medical bills or other reasons.

"Assisted suicide is totally unnecessary," Mahony said. "Not only is it against God's law and God's plan, we simply don't need something like that."

Similar legislation has been proposed in previous years in California, but never made it to the governor's desk. However, growing public support and the backing of Nubez make it increasingly likely that the Democrat-controlled Assembly will pass the bill.

A spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reiterated earlier statements that voters should decide the issue.

"We typically don't take a position on legislation until we've had a chance to review it," spokesman Aaron McLear said. "But on this issue, I can tell you that his position has always been that this is a very significant issue that should be decided directly by the voters."

Steve Hopcraft, author of the bill and campaign manager for Californians for Compassionate Choices, said Mahony is out of touch with public sentiment.

"He does not represent the views of a majority of Roman Catholics in California," Hopcraft said. "And he certainly does not represent the majority of Californians of every faith who believe terminally ill patients should make their own choices about the final days of their terminal disease."

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

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