Notes for the Facilitator

1. Provide an overview of the Catholic Church’s perspective about the true needs of the dying and the threat of assisted suicide.
2. Initiate conversations about the prospect and process of dying, addressing fears and affirmative ways to respond.
3. Introduce basic information about assisted suicide, medical treatment decisions, pain management, hospice, and advance directives.

1. A ten-minute video, In Support of Life: Comfort & Hope for the Dying, designed to promote discussion about assisted suicide and end-of-life issues.
2. Small group conversations using the Discussion Starters.
3. Handouts summarizing Catholic teaching on basic issues and identifying available resources for the dying and their families.

1. Participants can enunciate a positive vision about the dying process that addresses fears and reflects Catholic teaching.
2. Participants can articulate several reasons, from a secular perspective, why assisted suicide is not a good idea.
3. Participants understand that hospice, good pain management, and responsible control over medical treatment decisions better meet the needs of the dying and are desirable alternatives to assisted suicide.
4. Participants are informed about where to find life-affirming resources, such as hospice care.

The Introductory Workshop is exactly that: introductory. The important thing is not to achieve an exhaustive understanding of Catholic teaching, but to encourage individuals to begin to approach end-of-life issues with a life-affirming focus. The Massachusetts Catholic Conference and each of the dioceses will be planning more extensive educational and pastoral opportunities as a follow-up.