News Briefs: Marriage Encounter Weekend MADISON -- Space is still available for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend scheduled for May 17 to 19 at the Bishop O'Connor Pastoral Center here. Marriage Encounter is for couples of all ages who would like to further enrich their relationship. During the weekend, presentations are given by three couples and a priest, followed by time for each participating couple to reflect alone together. The weekend is Catholic in orientation; however, couples of all faiths are welcome. The weekend begins at 8 p.m. Friday and is completed by 5 p.m. Sunday. A $35 registration fee will reserve space. The weekend includes two nights lodging and five meals. There is a request for a free will donation on Sunday afternoon. No one is refused access for lack of financial resources. To register or for information call 888-574-5653 or visit the Web site at www.wwme.org. Sauk City parish plant sale SAUK CITY -- St. Aloysius Parish is hosting its "Rite of Spring" plant sale Saturday, May 11, featuring the green thumbs of St. Aloysius School and Parish. Perennials, herbs, and wildflowers from Gloria's Flowers will be on sale as well as annuals. Besides a variety of garden plants, cocoa bean mulch is available now through the school, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and day of the sale. Mulch is available in 40-lb. bags at $5 per bag or five for $20. The sale will be held May 11 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school gym. Proceeds go the School Endowment Fund. For more information, contact Julia Lamberty at 608-643-2319. Freshstart stop-smoking program PORTAGE -- Divine Savior Healthcare's community health education department, in cooperation with the Columbia-Marquette County Tobacco Control Coalition, is sponsoring a free Freshstart stop-smoking program. Classes will be held May 13, 15, 20, and 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in suite 100 at Divine Savior Healthcare Medical Center, 128 Eastridge Dr. here. To register, call 608-745-6405 or toll free 1-800-272-9355, ext. 6405. May crowning May 5 MADISON -- A Filipino-American Santacruzan and May Crowning will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, at Schoenstatt Heights, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd. All are invited to the May crowning and pilgrimage to the Schoenstatt Shrine. Those attending are encouraged to bring prayer intentions and flowers to make a living crown for the Blessed Mother. Mass will be followed by a procession to be led by girls and boys ages six to 10. Girls may wear white dresses and flower wreaths. Boys may wear white shirts and black pants. All are encouraged to wear a Filipino costume. Refreshments, entertainment, and a raffle drawing will follow.

End of life
health care decisions:

MADISON -- Wisconsin's Roman Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter on end of life health care decision-making and advance care planning.

Entitled Now and at the Hour of Our Death, the letter voices the bishops' concern and compassion for those facing critical health care decisions, and it shares a moral and ethical framework for making such decisions.

"In recent years, individuals, families, and society at large have raised new questions about death and dying. As the bishops observed the discussions around these questions, they felt that there was a need to provide a unique resource for Catholics," stated John Huebscher, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC).

Guidance to Catholics

The pastoral letter was developed through a series of consultations with various representatives of diocesan ministries, Catholic hospitals, and hospice services.

The bishops formed a core group of consultors that first met in the winter of 2000 to begin constructing a resource specifically designed to provide guidance to Catholics on end of life health care decision-making. Bishop William H. Bullock of Madison, who is vice-president of the WCC, was the bishops' liaison to the consultors.

"The bishops sought to develop a document that both educates and comforts those who read it and is accessible to all Catholics," continued Huebscher.

Ethical questions

The letter opens by recognizing that advances in medical technology create both opportunities and moral challenges. As medicine continues to strive to preserve human life, scientific progress opens new ethical questions regarding the meaning of life and death.

In reviewing church teaching, the bishops begin by citing the fundamental Catholic belief that human life is sacred, social, and eternal. The pastoral letter goes on to offer guidance to those who face a serious illness and those who are seeking to prepare in advance for their medical care.

It addresses the challenges faced by society today, noting the increasing threat of assisted suicide and euthanasia. The document also provides guidance in the church's teaching on various life support measures, pain medication, and overly aggressive medical treatment.

"While some families would feel more comfortable emotionally with having 'tried everything,' there is no moral obligation to do this if in the best clinical judgment such measures may be useless or result in a burden disproportionate to the anticipated benefit," the statement says.

The bishops stress the importance of contemplating these questions before a crisis occurs and the necessity of ongoing moral guidance regarding critical health care decisions. The letter encourages family members to discuss the reality of death with each other.

"You may find it difficult to bring up the subject with your loved ones," the bishops acknowledge. "Yet these conversations are vitally important for you and those you love."

Advance directives

The bishops also urge Catholics to utilize advance directives such as living wills or durable power of attorney for health care documents.

"It is very important to ensure that your wishes are respected when due to injury or illness you are unable to communicate them yourself," the bishops wrote. "Preparing an advance directive is an effective way to address this problem."

"The reality is that many of us will die in an institutional setting. And the medical decisions and options that will be presented to us by providers in health care facilities have moral dimensions. Our choices regarding medical treatments must be viewed through a moral lens that directs us away from choices that deny human dignity and toward choices that affirm our respect for all life and our belief in eternal life," noted Huebscher.

Faith community

In addition, the bishops focus on the critical role that the faith community can and should play in the care and comfort of the sick and their loved ones. They encourage parishes to work collaboratively with hospitals and hospice programs to provide spiritual and emotional support to the dying.

"Often when the issue of end of life decision-making is addressed, a great deal of focus is placed on the questions and concerns regarding health care or medical decisions. However, these issues should not overshadow the importance of providing spiritual support to the dying person."

The letter concludes with a helpful glossary and a list of resources for further information on ethical health care decision-making.

Copies of Now and at the Hour of our Death may be obtained by contacting the Diocese of Madison's Office for Justice and Peace, 608-821-3086, or by contacting the WCC, 608-257-0004. The letter is also available on the WCC Web site at www.wisconsincatholic.com.