The Pope has done nothing to my knowledge about the acceptance of euthanasia. The Catholics do not consider the removal of a feeding tube to be euthanasia.
The church spends most of its protest effort trying to spare convicted murderers from execution.
Someone mentioned earlier on Sunday that "colorful" CO is one of the worst states for abuse of the disabled and forced starvation. I was wondering if this part of the legacy of the long-time CO Governor Richard Lamm (Democrat). He once urged the elderly to "get out of the way" when they become disabled and said that they "have a duty to die" for the benefit of the remaining members of society. He later denied making such statements. Lamm tried to run as the Reform Party presidential candidate in 1996 but was stopped by Henry Ross Perot. Lamm is one of the Democrats whose rhetoric was at odds with the "compassion" that his party otherwise proclaims.
"The Pope has done nothing to my knowledge about the acceptance of euthanasia. The Catholics do not consider the removal of a feeding tube to be euthanasia."
Sorry, but that's not true! The Catholic Church is very much AGAINST euthanasia, and the Pope and the bishops have spoken out many times in condemning it. The only thing the Church allows is for the cessation of extraordinary treatments, designed to prolong life, and when these treatments would be unduly burdensome and painful, AND ONLY when the patient consents. Food and hydration are NOT considered to be "treatments", but ordinary means of preserving life.
Here are some examples of the Church's teachings.
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: "Declaration on Euthanasia" May 5, 1980
It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action. For it is a question of the violation of the divine law, an offense against the dignity of the human person, a crime against life, and an attack on humanity.
Excerpt from Catechism of the Catholic Church:
section 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.
Here's more:
http://euthanasia.com/catholicart.html