Patient Choices at End of Life

A Supportive Voice From the Pulpit
Among prominent advocates of physician aid in dying, few speak with the credibility of the cloth. Bishop John Spong does.

The preeminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong, 70, was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement last year. His admirers acclaim his legacy as a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person - he is considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made Bishop Spong the most vilified of modern clergyman. The target of hostility, fear, and death threats, he has been called anti-Christ, hypocrite and the devil incarnate, in part because, among other controversial positions, he supports physician ain in dying. Bishop Spong is to be the keynote speaker at the Hemlock National Conference in San Diego next January. Hemlock recently asked him to outline some of his views on religion and the right-to-die.

Question: A prominent, mainline Christian who endorses aid in dying is rare. Have you always held that view? If not, when and why did you adopt it?
Answer: As a priest and bishop for more than forty years I have been privileged to live with people on their journeys through life and into death. I learned much in that process. I value, indeed treasure life. I see it as a gift of God. I have no desire to hasten its end prematurely. At the same time I see no value in extending life beyond the limits of meaningful relationships. To me life is honored when it can be laid down in an appropriate manner at the appropriate time. I defend the right of every individual to determine what that manner and time are for him or her. I see no conflict between this and my religious convictions.

Q: What do your fellow bishops in the Episcopal Church think of your position?
A: The subjects of physician assisted suicide and active euthanasia are regularly debated in the Episcopal Church. There is majority support for passive euthanasia, but only minority support for active euthanasia. I fail to see the distinction given the development of medical science. I think we are simply not yet comfortable stating the obvious. The Episcopal Church mirrors the debate in our nation. As that debate moves forward, I believe my church will move with it.

Q: Has it cost you support from our colleagues within the church, or limited your ability to preach to those outside it?
A: I don't think so, but because that is so unimportant to me, I might not even notice. I do not think one takes a stand because of its presumed popularity or unpopularity but because one is convinced that it is correct.

Q: Who has criticized you for it? What have they said? What have you told them?
A: My critics have generally been members of the religious right. The substance of their argument is that life is a gift of God and it is not within the capacity of human beings to end it. It has not been within the human capacity to face these issues until very recently. Human ingenuity has expanded life in wondrous ways. When we cross the boundary between expanding life and postponing death I think new choices become necessary. Religious people are generally afraid of new choices.

Q: Many Christians find it difficult to reconcile their beliefs with the idea of hastening death. What do you tell them?
A: Hastening death is not the way I would describe my point of view. Seeing death as natural, not something evil, sinful, or even to be avoided is what I support. I seek to embrace death as a friend and not to be so committed to avoiding it that I cling to existence when it has ceased to be life. A breathing cadaver is not a witness to the goodness of life.

Q: Polls show that most Catholics support aid in dying, but the U.S. Council of Bishops strongly opposes it, as does the Vatican. What can members of the dying-with-dignity movement do to bring the Catholic hierarchy around? Have you discussed this issue with your Catholic brethren?
A: There are many issues on which church people differ with the pronouncements of the hierarchy: birth control, abortion, women's issues, homosexuality and freedom of choice about life and death are among them. Ethical standards are not created by majority vote. History reveals that if the hierarchy becomes out of touch with the people, it is normally the hierarchy that changes.

Q: Many fundamentalist Christians strongly oppose dying-with-dignity. Is winning their endorsement a lost cause?
A: Fundamentalist Christians fight many losing battles. Women should keep quiet in church! Creation science is a proper alternative to evolution! Homosexuality is inherently evil! I see no reason to engage these points of view. Knowledge will challenge yesterday's ignorance and yesterday's prejudice quite adequately. I prefer to move with the people who are able to move and to love the others while ignoring their arguments.

Patient Choices at End of Life – Vermont
formerly Death with Dignity Vermont and End-of-Life Choices Vermont
P.O. Box 1158
Manchester, VT 05254-1158
802-362-2359
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