Q. Catholic doctrine establishes that a patient terminally ill must not be denied food and nutrients. But what about a patient over 80 and otherwise in fair condition, who after a chronic renal failure has no renal function left and faces treatment with chronic hemodialysis with the possible complications of infection, anemia, discomfort, etc.? Can he in good faith refuse treatment? In other words, is hemodialysis ordinary or extraordinary means to preserve the life of this person? — C.G.D., Maryland
A. As we have noted in the past, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 2278) says that “discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of ‘overzealous’ treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.”
While nutrition and hydration are obligatory for a terminally ill patient, unless the patient’s body is no longer able to absorb even food and water, it would seem for the person you are talking about that hemodialysis might constitute “overzealous” or extraordinary treatment if it constitutes a burden to the person or offers no reasonable chance of improving the person’s medical condition.
Refusing such treatment, said St. John Paul II, “is not the equivalent of suicide or euthanasia; it rather expresses acceptance of the human condition in the face of death” (Evangelium Vitae, n. 65).
Our opinion is based on the facts that you have conveyed to us, but we would suggest that you consult a reliable priest or ethicist before making a decision.
Q. I find the Novus Ordo an occasion of sin and feel at home attending only Tridentine celebrations of the Mass. The most convenient location for me to attend a consistently offered Traditional Latin Mass is an SSPX chapel. Is it acceptable for me to regularly attend Sunday Mass at this site? I have no schismatic intent. — J.D., via e-mail.
A. First of all, to think that attending the Mass that has been celebrated worldwide since 1970 is an occasion of sin is to suggest that the gates of Hell have prevailed against the Catholic Church, something which Jesus said would never happen. So-called Novus Ordo Masses that you have attended may have been celebrated badly and contrary to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, but they cannot reasonably be characterized as occasions of sin.
Second, although Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 lifted the penalty of excommunication on the four priests who were illegitimately consecrated bishops by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988, the Society of St. Pius X remains in schism from Rome over doctrinal issues. “As long as the Society does not have a canonical status in the Church,” said a statement from the Vatican Press Office in May 2011, “its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. . . . Until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers…do not legitimately exercise any ministries in the Church.”
This means that while the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders are valid in the SSPX, since their priests have valid orders, these sacraments are illicit. The Sacrament of Penance had not been valid because of lack of canonical jurisdiction, but Pope Francis, in September 2015, said that SSPX priests could validly hear Confessions during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which ends on November 20, 2016. He expressed the hope that “in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity.”
Going to an SSPX Mass would fulfill your Sunday obligation since, according to canon law (c. 1248), “The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.” Thus, the Vatican’s Ecclesia Dei Commission said that if one’s intention “is simply to participate in Mass according to the 1962 Missal for the sake of devotion, this would not be a sin.”
However, the Commission has discouraged the faithful from attending Masses celebrated under the aegis of the Society of St. Pius X because of its concern that one who attends SSPX Masses might over time slowly imbibe “a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church classically exemplified in A Rome and Econe Handbook, which states in response to Question 14 that the SSPX defends the traditional catechisms and therefore the Old Mass — and so attacks the Novus Ordo, the Second Vatican Council, and the New Catechism — all of which more or less undermine our unchangeable Catholic faith.”
Q. Do you know anything about Charlie Johnston and his scary predictions about the future? I was unable to hear him speak in my town recently, but I visited his website and listened to one of his talks on YouTube. What do you think? — R.P., Massachusetts.
A. Mr. Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk-show host, and political consultant who has been traveling the country for about 20 years talking about revelations he claims to have received for many years from the Blessed Virgin, the Archangel Gabriel, and the saints. Among other things, Johnston says that the world is facing a global economic collapse and a civil war over cultural beliefs. He says that the coming “Great Storm” will last only a few months and it will signal the beginning of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
The coming chaos, he says, is part of God’s plan to convert us from belief in human institutions so that we can recognize that our only reliable source of security is God. He urges people to take “the next right step” by acknowledging the importance of God in our lives and becoming a sign of hope to those around us.
Johnston’s writings and speeches were submitted to a commission of two theologians and a canon lawyer in the Archdiocese of Denver, where he lives. In a preliminary report issued on March 1, 2016, Archbishop Samuel Aquila noted that Johnston “insists that the ‘prophetic’ aspects of his message are not essential and should not be the focus of those who follow him. However, it appears that those same predictions are what attract new followers to his message and give them a sense of urgency and zeal.”
After reviewing the commission’s findings, said the report, Archbishop Aquila “has decided to strongly advise the faithful to exercise prudence and caution in regards to Mr. Charlie Johnston’s alleged divine visions and messages. As has been demonstrated with other alleged apparitions, the danger exists of people placing greater faith in a prediction than in Christ’s words and promises. For these reasons, Mr. Johnston will also not be approved as a speaker in the Archdiocese of Denver.
“For those who are disappointed by this finding, the Archdiocese encourages them to seek their security in Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, and the Scriptures. The faithful should also remember Christ’s words: ‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’” (Matt. 24:36).
Responding to the archbishop’s letter, Johnston said that “in essence, Archbishop Aquila has adopted the Gamaliel option here, neither endorsing nor condemning what I write and say, but allowing it and waiting to see what fruit it will bear. If it does not bear the fruit of greater devotion to Our Lord, greater love for Our Lady, and helping to build up the bonds of affection and love between the faithful and our proper spiritual leaders, the bishops and priests, then it is barren regardless of how well the mere ‘predictions’ play out.”
He said that the archdiocesan officials have been “very kind and courteous to me,” and that “I am grateful now to get specific comments from my Archbishop — confident that he is watching over me and will correct me when I need it. Frankly, this is scary stuff to have to figure out and, when you have serious men of spiritual authority watching over you, it is not so much intimidating as it makes you feel not so all alone.”
The “Gamaliel option” refers to the Pharisee in the Acts of the Apostles who cautioned the Sanhedrin not to punish the apostles for speaking about Jesus and His Resurrection. “Have nothing to do with these men and let them go,” said Gamaliel. “For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:38-39).
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