Fordham University: Where Suicide Appears to be More Acceptable Than a Chick-fil-A Sandwich
Soros-funded, pro-assisted suicide group End of Life Choices New York to co-host event at Catholic Fordham on June 7, 2017.
Sign TFP Student Action's protest here
What’s worse, euthanasia or a Chick-fil-A sandwich? The answer is obvious to most Catholics. But at Fordham University, a Catholic campus, the sandwich shop has been banned while a pro-assisted suicide group is invited to promote its agenda.
Fordham is a Jesuit university in New York City that recently sparked controversy for rejecting a proposal to open a Chick-fil-A establishment on campus due to the restaurant owner's "bigoted" stance on natural marriage. While students are not allowed to enjoy a chicken sandwich on campus, Fordham has been hosting a series of talks advocating euthanasia – also known as assisted-suicide.
Under the legitimate field of palliative care, the immoral practice of physician assisted suicide is presented disingenuously as “dying with dignity.”
One such class was taught by David C. Leven on February 25, 2017. Leven is not a professor at the university, but rather a recurring “guest lecturer.” For his day job, he works as Executive Director Emeritus and Senior Consultant of End of Life Choices New York, a pro-euthanasia activist group that co-sponsors the lecture series at Fordham.
Leven has publically stated that the Catholic Church should stay out of the issue, “The fact is life is precious and very few people at the end of their lives want to die, but if they are dying, they should decide—not J.J. Hanson, not the Catholic church or any other religious group, not the government and not some in the disabilities rights community.”
Furthermore, End of Life Choices New York's webpage is open about the group's mission and activities, “We advocate to legalize medical aid in dying in New York through litigation or by legislation. EOLCNY has initiated a lawsuit which is currently making its way through the system. We seek a ruling to clarify that a mentally competent, terminally ill patient has the right to obtain medicine by prescription that he or she could ingest to achieve a peaceful death.”
End of Life Choices also celebrates receiving a $300,000 grant from billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, an organization which finances far-left causes internationally.
Scandalous Pro-Euthanasia Presentations
According to its web site, Fordham has hosted at least four workshops in concert with the pro-euthanasia group in the past year.
1. Being Mortal Documentary and Discussion (September 6, 2016)
by End of Life Choices New York and Fordham University, School of Social Work
2. How to Die in Oregon: Screening & discussion of NY Medical Aid in Dying Act (October 18, 2016)
by Department of Sociology & Anthropology/Compassion and Choices
Laurie Leonard, LMSW, Executive Director, End of Life Choices New York (Moderator)
3. Choice in Dying: Current Legal, Policy and Ethical Issues (February 25, 2017)
Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service
4. Palliative Art: Using the Arts to Improve Care at the End of Life (June 7, 2017)
by End of Life Choices New York and Fordham University, School of Social Work
Euthanasia is 'Morally Unacceptable'
The immoral practice of euthanasia is condemned by the Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 2277:
"Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
"Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded."
Moreover, the papal encyclical Evangelium Vitae states that Catholics cannot "remain silent" in face of euthanasia, but must oppose it as part of the sinful Culture of Death.
Join the Peaceful Protest
In fidelity to the Law of God and the perennial teachings of Holy Mother Church, TFP Student Action is launching a national protest petition. Please join us in urging Fordham University to cancel all pro-euthanasia lectures on campus, including the presentation scheduled on June 7, 2017, co-sponsored by End of Life Choices New York.
Sign your pro-life petition here.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!