PA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE PRAISES PA HOUSE FOR PASSING BILL TO STIFFEN PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO ENCOURAGE SUICIDE
HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference today praised the PA House for its passage of HB 1827, which increases criminal penalties for those convicted of aiding or encouraging another person to commit suicide.
“This is a sickening trend that has become all-too common because of the internet,” said Eric Failing, the Executive Director of the PCC. “The wrong people have been getting in the ear of those who are thinking of taking their own lives. These victims should be getting professional help instead of listening to hateful people who only want to harm others. We must send a message to them that this will not be tolerated.”
Failing agreed with the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-Cumberland, York), who said that those who guide or encourage others to kill themselves are committing murder by proxy. Under Keefer’s bill, penalties would be harsher for anyone who encourages another person to commit suicide who is under the age of 18 or has an intellectual disability.
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is based in Harrisburg and is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops.
