At Pennsylvania Family Institute, we often hear a familiar refrain from those pushing harmful legislation at the Capitol: “But our neighboring states are already doing it…why shouldn’t we?”
It’s the same argument used to push casino gambling here two decades ago: that we needed to “keep up” with New Jersey and West Virginia. And now, it’s the justification behind efforts to legalize so-called recreational marijuana—despite the real and damaging consequences witnessed in states that have gone down that road.
The same argument is currently being used to justify approving “recreational” marijuana, even though many states are rejecting it and despite the clear harms occurring in those states that have said yes. It’s a tired, unprincipled rationale – “Tommy’s doing it, so why can’t I?” – but it often succeeds in politics.
Last week, the New York State Senate passed legislation to legalize so-called “physician-assisted suicide”—and sent it to Governor Hochul’s desk for her signature or (hopefully) veto. To our south, the State of Maryland has come perilously close several times to passing similar anti-life legislation. Additionally, late last month, Delaware’s Governor signed an assisted-suicide law that will go into effect in January. New Jersey adopted such legislation in 2019.
With this troubling action in our neighboring states, one can imagine increased pressure here in Pennsylvania from anti-life forces, citing the same tired refrain used to advance bad legislation. “We need to do it to keep up with our bordering states.”
A Moment for Prayer—and Vigilance
We are asking Pennsylvanians to join us in prayer for New York: that Governor Kathy Hochul will veto the assisted suicide bill recently passed by the legislature. And we’re asking for prayer that Pennsylvania—and our neighboring states—will be protected from sliding further into what Pope John Paul II famously called a “culture of death.”
We are not alone in this concern.
Our friends at the New York Families Foundation, led by Jason McGuire, have stood courageously for life and truth in the face of intense cultural and political pressure. Since 2007, Jason has led with conviction—defending life, protecting families, and advancing faith-driven policy from the church house to the statehouse. Their work mirrors the mission we pursue here in Pennsylvania.
Maryland Family Institute President Jeff Trimbath made the case clearly in The Baltimore Sun:
“Physician-assisted suicide is not the answer. It endangers the weak and vulnerable, corrupts the practice of medicine, undermines the sanctity of human life, and weakens family and societal commitments to care for one another.”
Those words reflect a conviction shared across the pro-life movement.
This Isn’t About Compassion—It’s About the Value of Life
The push for assisted suicide is often framed in terms of “dignity” or “compassion.” But in reality, it opens the door to systemic neglect. It sends a chilling message: that the lives of the weak, sick, elderly, or disabled are less valuable and more expendable.
As Dr. Matthew Eppinette, Executive Director of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, rightly points out:
“Assisted suicide runs directly counter to the very core of the practice of medicine, which is to always care for the patient and to accompany him or her through their illness. This is why the AMA code of medical ethics warns, ‘Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.’”
And the concern isn’t just theoretical. Meghan Schrader, a disability justice advocate and scholar, recently shared a deeply disturbing account in LifeNews that underscores the real-world consequences of normalizing assisted suicide. She described her friend “Amy,” a disabled woman in Canada who, instead of receiving support from a suicide hotline, was encouraged to pursue euthanasia. Only through the intervention of pro-life advocates did Amy find hope and healing.
“From my perspective as a disability justice advocate and scholar,” Schrader wrote, “assisted suicide is an ableist public policy that furthers systemic violence and trauma, and it is best to nip the USA assisted suicide movement in the bud.”
Amy’s story is a warning—and a call to action. These aren’t abstract policy debates. Real lives are at stake.
Standing Together for Life
We urge our supporters to pray that New York’s governor makes the bold and morally right decision to reject this bill. Let us also lift up Jason McGuire and the entire team at New York Families Foundation—that they would be strengthened and encouraged as they continue to speak truth in love.
We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jason and others across this pro-family network—faithful organizations like the Maryland Family Institute and the Delaware Family Policy Council. Whether the issue is assisted suicide, the protection of preborn children, or religious liberty, we are united by a common mission: to build a culture that recognizes every person as an image-bearer of God, worthy of protection, care, and dignity.
Pennsylvania has not yet embraced physician-assisted suicide. But we must remain vigilant. What happens in Albany, Annapolis, or Dover today could be the argument used to push similar legislation in Harrisburg tomorrow.
Thank you for standing with us—and with our allies—as we work to uphold life, defend families, and protect the most vulnerable.
