Hartford, Conn., Mar 16, 2009 / 14:31 pm
The Connecticut legislators who sponsored a quickly withdrawn bill targeting the Catholic Church for financial and organizational restructuring have now introduced and hastily withdrawn a “disastrous” bill which would legalize assisted suicide in the state.
Senator Andrew McDonald (D-Stamford) and Representative Michael Lawlor (D-East Haven), co-chairs of the State Judiciary Committee, first made headlines with their sponsorship of S.B. 1098. The bill was quickly removed after it provoked Catholic outcry for its provisions which would have removed the ability of bishops to govern their dioceses and pastors to head their parishes.
This past Friday, the two legislators put forward Raised Bill 1138, “An Act Concerning Death with Dignity.” It was withdrawn from consideration on Monday.
Before the bill was withdrawn, a statement from the Diocese of Bridgeport called it a “disastrous bill” which “would effectively legalize assisted suicide in our state.”