Chapter 17
"I call Father Thomas."
The list of devastating witnesses for the state was getting longer.
"Father Thomas, what is your relationship to the Bartlet family?"
"I've been their priest at Church of the Sacred Heart in Manchester since their return."
"Please tell us what conversations you had with the President prior to his death."
"No sir. It violates a priest's confidentiality with his parishioner."
"Then, Father Thomas, please tell us the Catholic Church's position on euthanasia."
"Yes." He turned to the jury. "The Church teaches us that is a difference between active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is always immoral without question. One cannot induce death, with such aids as poison or anything else for that matter. Passive euthanasia is basically removing life support or not performing extraordinary procedures to keep someone alive. But in order for passive euthanasia to be considered moral, there are certain conditions which must be met. If any one of these conditions is not met, then the act is considered immoral and a grave sin by the Catholic Church."
"Please continue, Father."
"The first of these conditions is that the patient in question must be suffering from a terminal illness with no hope of recovery. The second is that there is an obligation to use all ordinary medical treatment to help save the patient. Another condition is that one may not stop treatment just to end the patient's life. The intention must be to relieve pain and end suffering. Treatment whose purpose is to relive undesirable pain and anxiety may be used, even if shortening the death process. One also may stop any treatment that is simply prolonging the death process. If all of these factors and conditions are met or followed, then passive euthanasia may be considered moral and acceptable. Let me emphasize that last statement, it MAY be acceptable."
Abbey, at first, had been hoping that the Father's response was going to help her. But at the end she knew that it could only harm her.
The writing on the wall was becoming clearer and clearer.
"Anything else, Father?"
"Yes. Suffering is a fact of human life and has special significance for the Christian. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong in trying to relieve someone's suffering, as long as one does not intentionally cause death."
"Thank you, Father Thomas. Your witness."
"Father Thomas, President Bartlet was suffering from a terminal illness and all ordinary means had been used to help save him. But that couldn't occur. Do you agree that Mrs. Bartlet's intent was to relieve his pain and end his suffering?"
"Ms. Sawyer, that's not up to me. It's between her and her God."
Abbey shuddered. What she did was indeed between her and her God.
"No further questions."