The Wired Word for 09/27/2026  🔗 **Source:** [The Wired Word for 09/27/2026]() > [!note]+ Document Notes > --- > tags: [medical-aid-in-dying, end-of-life-care, christian-ethics, sanctity-of-life, palliative-care, adult-sunday-school] > author: The Wired Word > source: The Wired Word (Communication Resources) > reference: https://thewiredword.com/ > date created: 2026-09-24 12:12 > --- > > [!info] Generated analysis — not the author's words. Sections below are machine-written > > from the captured source. Only text inside `> [!quote]` blocks is verbatim from the author. > > Do not quote or attribute any other line to the named author. > # 🏷️ Title: The Wired Word for 09/27/2026: Chicago Radio Host, 82, Chooses to End Life in Switzerland > ## 🧭 Table of contents > - [📝 Summary](#-summary) > - [📖 Main content](#-main-content) > - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) > - [📚 References](#-references) > - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) > - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) > - [✅ Action items](#-action-items) > - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) > - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) > - [❓ Questions](#-questions) > - [🔮 Future research](#-future-research) > - [💡 Implications](#-implications) > - [🧠 Learning styles assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) > - [📊 Accessibility assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) > - [🌍 DEIB assessment](#-deib-assessment) > - [✅ Logical validity](#-logical-validity) > - [🛡️ DARVO analysis](#️-darvo-analysis) > - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) > - [🔄 Refactor appendix](#-refactor-appendix--the-wired-word-for-09272026-chicago-radio-host-82-chooses-to-end-life-in-switzerland) > ## 📝 Summary > - **What happened.** Judy Markey, 82, co-host of WGN-AM 720's "Kathy and Judy Show," died by voluntary assisted suicide in Switzerland on September 11, 2026, after a degenerative neurological disorder. The Wired Word, a weekly adult Sunday school discussion guide from Communication Resources, built its lesson for the week of September 27, 2026 around her death, the Illinois medical aid in dying (MAID) law that took effect the next day, and New York's amended MAID act. The class leader, signing as "LB," forwarded it with a content warning and made attendance optional. > - **The capture.** A forwarded email, published 2026-09-24, with no canonical URL; `reference:` points at the publisher's home page. 58 paragraphs, 2,893 words. All 17 outbound links are SendGrid tracking redirects, so sources are named by anchor text. No headings survived capture. > - **The claim.** Two layers. The reported layer (paragraphs 6 through 18) summarizes four outlets: who Markey was, how she died, what MAID is, which 13 states plus D.C. authorize it, and what New York's amendments require. The framing layer (paragraphs 24 through 55) argues that life is a gift held in stewardship rather than ownership, and that the church's calling is palliative and hospice care that "manages end-of-life pain without hastening death." > - **Why it matters.** This is class prep for a UCC adult class whose leader has already flagged the topic as painful. The lesson quotes a pro-MAID Christian (Jan Steven, Dying With Dignity Canada) and a physician opponent (Ewan Goligher) in their own words, which makes it a real discussion guide rather than a position paper, if the teacher separates reported facts from the writers' theological conclusions. > - **Key stakeholders.** Markey; Kathy O'Malley (co-host); Tom Collinger (husband); Governor Kathy Hochul; the Roman Catholic Church, whose Catechism the lesson quotes; disability advocates (named, not quoted); TWW team members Frank Ramirez and Mary Sells; LB's class. > - **Risks and tradeoffs.** The lesson's prompts say "assisted suicide," the opponents' term; the news sources say "medical aid in dying." The scripture set pairs Saul's and Judas's suicides with a terminal-illness MAID case and only partly flags the difference. The one statistic (24% of doctors involved in an assisted death regretted it) comes from an unnamed study cited by two unnamed physicians. And "many Evangelical and Mainline Protestant denominations" are grouped as opponents without naming any, which matters for a UCC class. > - **Bottom line.** A well-built lesson that reports the news by named outlet, states the stewardship position clearly, and gives the other side a real voice. Teach it as two-sided, name the terminology choice out loud, and handle the Judas passage with care around anyone bereaved by suicide. > ## 📖 Main content > **The news layer, by outlet.** The lesson ties its facts to four sources. New York Post (paragraph 6): Markey was 82, had a degenerative neurological disorder, and died by voluntary assisted suicide in Switzerland on September 11. Chicago Sun-Times (paragraph 8): O'Malley on the show saying "things other people didn't want to say," and her grief. People (paragraph 11): the definition of MAID and its distinction from euthanasia. St. Louis Review (paragraph 16): the June 11 protest against New York's act and Governor Hochul's amendments. Paragraphs 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 carry biography and family quotes with no fresh attribution, including the claim that the show was "the first radio program hosted by a woman in Chicago." > **What MAID is, as the lesson defines it.** Paragraph 11 gives the operative distinction: under MAID the patient self-administers the prescribed medication; under euthanasia a doctor administers it, and euthanasia is illegal everywhere in the United States. Paragraph 12 lists 13 states (California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Colorado, Washington, Delaware, New York, Maine, Montana, Oregon, Illinois) plus D.C.; paragraph 10's "a dozen other states" matches (12 plus Illinois). One flattening: Montana's authorization rests on a 2009 state supreme court ruling (Baxter v. Montana), not a statute, so "authorized MAID laws" is loose for that entry. Paragraph 16 lists New York's amended safeguards: a 5-day waiting period, a mental health evaluation, an in-person initial physician evaluation, an audio or video record of the request, a bar on financial beneficiaries acting as witness or interpreter, and a residency requirement. Markey died in Switzerland rather than wait for the Illinois law, which took effect the day after her death (paragraph 10); O'Malley had known of the decision for at least a year (paragraph 13). > **The framing layer: gift, stewardship, care.** The lesson's own voice starts at paragraph 17 with two sentences of Roman Catholic teaching: humans are "stewards, not owners" of life, and direct euthanasia is "morally unacceptable." The wording matches the Catechism of the Catholic Church at §2280 and §2277; the lesson cites neither number. Paragraph 18 widens the circle to "the Catholic Church, various Orthodox traditions, and many Evangelical and Mainline Protestant denominations" and states the positive program: compassionate, faith-based palliative and hospice care that manages pain without hastening death. Paragraph 25 sets the task ("Share your beliefs about personal freedom, the gift of life, and how Christians can best care for one another at the end of life"). The five Big Questions (paragraphs 27 through 31) move from experience, to the MAID/euthanasia line, to stewardship of the body, to individual choice versus community standards, to the church's role in care. The charge (paragraph 53) and prayer (paragraph 55) land on the stewardship side. > **The scripture set.** Four passages with the writers' commentary (full notes below). Genesis 9:6 (paragraphs 33 through 36) is the foundational text: the image of God grounds "life for a life," so "human life must be cherished and preserved." 1 Samuel 31:4 (37 through 40) is the lesson's most honest moment: team member Frank Ramirez says the author doesn't seem to disapprove of Saul's suicide, and the writers concede the debate. Matthew 27:3-5 (41 through 43) reports Judas's hanging with no moral drawn; its relevance to a terminal-illness MAID case is left implicit and needs care. Ephesians 5:28-30 (44 through 46) supplies the positive ethic of nourishing and tenderly caring for the body that the prayer picks up. > **The voices the lesson brings in.** "For Further Discussion" (paragraphs 48 through 51) quotes four positions. Mary Sells (TWW team) says lives are in God's hands and doubts any biblical story supports choosing to end life w Dear Class Members, A Chicago radio host has ended her life in Switzerland, after suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder. In response, this installment of *The Wired Word* will focus on assisted suicide, the gift of life, and how to best care for one another at the end of life. Some may find this topic difficult to discuss or that it may prompt personal emotions and feelings that would cause distress. Please let your attendance in class this week be decided acccordingly. LB.  **Chicago Radio Host, 82, Chooses to End Life in Switzerland** ***The Wired Word*** **for the Week of September 27, 2026** **In the News** A Chicago radio host named Judy Markey, co-host of the radio program the "Kathy and Judy Show," died as a result of a voluntary assisted suicide in Switzerland on September 11. According to the *New York Post*, Markey was 82 years old and suffered from a degenerative neurological disorder. Markey hosted the popular call-in morning talk show on WGN-AM 720 with host Kathy O'Malley from 1989 to 2009, and then again on weekends from 2013 to 2017. The show was the first radio program hosted by a woman in Chicago, at a time in which the field was heavily dominated by men. The women, along with their fans, were known as "The Girlfriends," and the duo was popular with men as well as with women. Although the show was best known for its humorous banter, the program did not shy away from topics such as sex and abortion. "We said things that were true and things other people didn't want to say," O'Malley said, reflecting on their work to the *Chicago Sun-Times*. "I loved her so much," she said of Markey. "She was something else." According to her husband Tom Collinger, Markey had no fear in her last months and moments, and was joking to the end. "She had a life that exceeded all her expectations," said Collinger, a professor emeritus at Northwestern University. "In the end she was comforting others." Coincidentally, Markey died a day before a new ["medical aid in dying](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPMktKIE0cFc-2FURdzu3bWDuCtPH2OqLqQaEmGPDE6EFmKZwqFKiUI-2BhFg-2BChUwUqcHY-2Blfi-2FcMV6nmz-2BQb-2FHf36G19N0ijcVgBsBas1NqrP-2BPPPsxnNPJNAQalK2-2BTfmjlw-3D-3D1Bnv_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgVettH2MeaBjJk-2F9JudqmGD5hjpzYj2kmTy-2BH14CCfsgSsb59d0A4yoiRqpY-2BPsNK4hyUA3hDw-2BoQUbLhvg36u55lWAh7idhSIJxfds3wXs4oq3qQNTnnvfK6n4LSv0LhAxZxT4va6zOWF8v248S9-2BAW0oe2BZDri81Y57cxGGjeAUABrjRGvi7jz-2BY6wDkuEe6mIDDMDuCBDCyIee0MXvI-3D)" (MAID) law went into effect in Illinois. The law, similar to legislation in a dozen other states, allows terminally ill adults to seek life-ending medication from doctors, and it is opposed by many religious leaders and disability advocates. According to her husband, Markey hoped that her death would add to -- and broaden -- the conversation surrounding a person's right to choose to die. According to *People*, MAID allows patients with terminal illnesses to end their lives with lethal medication. MAID differs from euthanasia in that patients administer the prescribed life-ending drugs themselves, rather than having a doctor administer them. Euthanasia is illegal in the United States. The 13 states that have authorized MAID laws now include California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Colorado, Washington, Delaware, New York, Maine, Montana, Oregon and Illinois, as well as Washington, D.C. Markey wanted to die "on her own terms," said her co-host O'Malley, as she announced Markey's death on the air. O’Malley had known about Markey’s decision for at least a year and explained, "Her body was really failing. She felt it, and those of us who loved her could see that she was slowing down, that she had issues with balance and pain and struggle." O'Malley said, "Judy and I were big supporters of medical aid in dying for a long time ... and she said, 'You know what? I'm not gonna let this drag on for 10 years.' She could feel that she was getting worse." O'Malley concluded, "Sometimes death takes a long time and that's not easy on anybody, including the people who love the person." On June 11, protesters gathered to speak against New York's MAID act. They objected to the permission being given to health-care providers to prescribe drugs to cause the death of a patient, instead of using drugs to alleviate their pain or suffering. According to the *St. Louis Review*, several of the concerns being raised by the protestors were addressed by New York governor Kathy Hochul. The act, as amended, mandates a 5-day waiting period, a mental health evaluation and an initial physician evaluation done in person. The MAID request must be recorded as video or audio, and anyone who may benefit financially from the patient's death is barred from acting as a witness or interpreter for the request. MAID requests are also limited to New York residents. Regarding suicide, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that human beings are "stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of." The Catholic Church also states, "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." Many religious groups -- including the Catholic Church, various Orthodox traditions, and many Evangelical and Mainline Protestant denominations -- assert that life is a gift of God, and it is to be preserved from its beginning to its natural end. Such groups typically support compassionate, faith-based palliative and hospice care, which manages end-of-life pain without hastening death. More on this story can be found at these links: [Beloved Chicago Radio Personality Judy Markey Dead at 82 After Assisted Suicide in Switzerland.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPF6TluJhgWGLuSqD4YQvITx2tOVuSkMjEVCTJvJ4arM3rrRlcWzwPacxEJdsoUk9VEAJU4daRIx-2BD8OXPx-2FJbaO8dwWL9EQZyZT0frsEWetqy2UTD5k2e0N5-2FymnMBUt-2FLL0Njzpzbw8QgjI8-2F6atZRxQfBYiKlDD175-2FZi-2F5-2BVl3AXS_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgcx9QBGAfRHvX1xts53xF1WfuVwHiDQ10r31CrHf4kCiL64NIp5G6-2FwUsyBy160wOq5MMe2ERvQDMTC4lKEyUxFkVtveacLHsMAneE2iFOIyigSZUi7JZnqOtlVQvIwWy-2BkTy2WhSQZoVftf4ZR0rm57DYgTzcXk7DfD1FUunbLf4E0ZtlFS5vHr2uP7m-2Bt-2B81lFgMX3JqwTYZZBBQMH4Pk-3D) [*New York Post*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPF6TluJhgWGLuSqD4YQvITx2tOVuSkMjEVCTJvJ4arM3rrRlcWzwPacxEJdsoUk9VEAJU4daRIx-2BD8OXPx-2FJbaO8dwWL9EQZyZT0frsEWetqy2UTD5k2e0N5-2FymnMBUt-2FLL0Njzpzbw8QgjI8-2F6atZRxQfBYiKlDD175-2FZi-2F5-2BVlvcyT_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgY3VDHyi8aFekcswWB7DHs0hGhp7eXW7exlKh-2BS1yWeAgGY3y9wlZhg3af9f2XDnVo-2B0cPli5cQqH0kkT3lLuecxSSs9HXt2L6Pxtph-2B9C7WsmZM2GQJoVE24-2FXztDnoCksDKH9Eg9Axl0iMUipWSPMzAysjaZWUuj3KWUYiZ5Gx8shbyBrGmw21xv6um9qYMWiGAqN0-2BaQurQ2uu6MlTlo-3D) [Judy Markey, Beloved Co-Host of the "Kathy and Judy Show," Dies at 82.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPMktKIE0cFc-2FURdzu3bWDuC9c3EOLBFh24ssZo4Q5KZYCm0e1DOIZQ13T0LZ0F8VoSe9-2FF8tInxRb-2B8YhHgRJq84Ve4DPD-2B-2FmGHCKNlS3rHVdPK79Dth-2FqTxLMaVHMhyZ8ErvDvkRqzohG5Y0oNPLJE-3DZN7X_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgeYioUu5ApFuAsVkAKZrTLIhbfg-2BojtqcEqfGRczz12nIhxWQ0j15giC6UYO2vwhK1V6mTMgOGcLV0WqhyPeFYcHRer3tgj4aYGGZTb-2Bokf74SDSyPGmhXYznvS1BOQzSvx9SQv2SntlWU6-2Fa4-2B53ldDD7HFxhy51nN8hZ-2BBes0QTmjRh-2FEY6Qc-2BZkIJz9pe4VuyJxA-2BxyLe9d2HKS0RaXc-3D) [*Chicago Sun-Times*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPMktKIE0cFc-2FURdzu3bWDuC9c3EOLBFh24ssZo4Q5KZYCm0e1DOIZQ13T0LZ0F8VoSe9-2FF8tInxRb-2B8YhHgRJq84Ve4DPD-2B-2FmGHCKNlS3rHVdPK79Dth-2FqTxLMaVHMhyZ8ErvDvkRqzohG5Y0oNPLJE-3DEdf-_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgXq8XDZMqyFvozyhGISBS7SUkAWjO3TfLwNJMhHgxkZUx7-2FYilkp6o-2F-2FKzW4DZVsqkJSfsY-2BXqVkKnTZRvo5vU4rvZPv-2BUzk5xa-2F0-2FFnh50cHOS0M9rgzhZIoDfJIseq2T-2BAiwVIU-2FkuLauczZg-2Ff-2FhF6wVIMk3NWmOTZf4i-2Bdy8zrKVIW3Mux6KZnc1eUv30GpRS5ca5y2dg6aa52UKPLc-3D) [Beloved Chicago Radio Host Judy Markey, 82, Chooses to End Life With Medical Aid in Dying.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNWyiZmJsyntn1oAFEbXtrcD-2FxzQXvotd1g9L-2B4JVjChK-2FnxxAN7T9820ZV-2FmA25-2BNOuQqbuzuVT4TfWLmPsbCc-2F24sdivYzHyxvjfI1xjMxPUKoyUQ0jz9jB3UV2SoPUQ-3D-3DhoyY_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwga-2Bpv8PV23agR-2B84KNF-2FkerkmO8pKCKzaeP6odd6NkJREJL4ZiUJ3xUyaQKs8ad26DLix56BCy3gHeJw2-2BuYRolvY6onugC-2FXrUuSiuDu9DNMBmW2jdBEYSd7N9Y7zZ8Hr5xtmlEwCCjQUL-2FrInureKHLZAQIxJCL9bxW0yM0ZqPcrgQpT3RIbMPrHEn7faZeM6QxckpfElpY7T0mRVwUm0-3D) [*People*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPNWyiZmJsyntn1oAFEbXtrcD-2FxzQXvotd1g9L-2B4JVjChK-2FnxxAN7T9820ZV-2FmA25-2BNOuQqbuzuVT4TfWLmPsbCc-2F24sdivYzHyxvjfI1xjMxPUKoyUQ0jz9jB3UV2SoPUQ-3D-3Dqsvy_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgRNMbswY2gJR9S5VujcJB7M8VJ46AlIYjkBUGk0glNYnRtEyoffYYiFsOaQA5jY652HTop6bppOuCs4ySaTC7dxv6I5CDfLXtFwsaVMt-2Fs9b1fzBlAseSUXUrHv1-2BnxoW6V4G-2FJlNRs5rdmW4WfvYwzAtqKJr1j8bimJPXkR2iHgWWC40uBh6XiETlMqFVa9Ind8fFEARwCIf-2BMBWqtLBqk-3D) [Catholics and Advocates Push Back as New York MAID Law Takes Effect.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKJeeJ5-2B6yGVJZA-2BbdpMgOJHAmbENOMLhWKGrOiyJMpaeGiHnrSICR-2F3fpnD1Y8Qw7RgyIUNt8WZ9MaqwLFd-2FMp8KxnZAo-2FtWu89Esl7LqNAHQYI_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgfSr5XT6OJtFMFZmIUSyxNzDQMq6hqyIePL1wirSW5NEa0WlKId57-2FOzqTGS3IKsU1sizHb555U8hd9F-2FsBiHUspEpbMhLhwVJ4fvf7ceUmCK5VxQoQISczoliu66U1jOBfrAaDgqWKEcAwnX84L5RqHE0H-2BZbNdszVC9GhCadCix009yXbTzucSLKl6v53JIqGZnWKjirBtKVO3uJYKSho-3D) [*St. Louis Review*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPKJeeJ5-2B6yGVJZA-2BbdpMgOJHAmbENOMLhWKGrOiyJMpaeGiHnrSICR-2F3fpnD1Y8Qw7RgyIUNt8WZ9MaqwLFd-2FMp8KxnZAo-2FtWu89Esl7LqNAjFy0_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgdKM3xrhEQBBUbgHmOVKdKM7YEOxos1mdCGGrcVXi1qMW6p-2FO-2B6kYFzGv8shW4PGtE5b5ZZAKpjbl3kysLZO4xsGLf5pHJwftpyPjywu2x4KeIRVJSMhVs-2Fmh687-2BZIzRrdn744GvwnDcocpgpn3iv5k4gVDB88wp7YXK5GaclhB4eTR-2BHca256MFCxBC4dh3-2F3LtA0yxHv8oL-2BpMMiJ3JM-3D) **Applying the News Story** Discuss the rise of assisted suicide (sometimes called assisted dying) in Switzerland and in a growing number of states, beginning with Oregon. Share your beliefs about personal freedom, the gift of life, and how Christians can best care for one another at the end of life. **The Big Questions** 1. When have you seen a person suffering from chronic pain, a terminal illness or a degenerative disease, and what assistance did they receive? What freedom should a person have, if any, to end their life on their own terms? 2. Where do you see distinctions between MAID (medical aid in dying) and euthanasia (drugs administered by a doctor in order to end a life)? When, if ever, would you support either approach, and why? 3. How do you understand life to be a gift of God? What does it mean to you to be a steward of your body, as opposed to being the owner of your body? 4. On the topic of assisted suicide, where do you draw the line between individual choice and community standards? How does your faith shape your position? 5. How can we better care for one another at the end of life? What role can the church play in alleviating suffering, especially when people are dealing with degenerative diseases? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Genesis 9:6***Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person's blood be shed, for in his own image God made humans.* (For context, read [Genesis 9:1-7](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNU5Mxi-2BA0aegohF5-2Bdfxh1AA3sUVE8DFKfkd7pVamGfMiIZA_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgXzG9tk2OCKX-2Fu2BQnRM-2FgF9YtJaoJ2eKQ85lLWN3cqfqmpw-2Fg7rc07U1COP1DQoIwpdz9H1OHhh5PKrvMa8pWPUSDUsfxPVbAK8Y0DjXqIqb3TSbWlHejUel-2BHXEKG8jarmsEsHZcZajbiSA6K4ZuEPFdOMIe23JdFmhle5EMQe1TM-2BBvG0kpWqOrghN4Gl11TSJk5XTGi5ITbFDcaYudQ-3D).) After the Great Flood, which led to the deaths of all but a handful of human beings, Noah and his sons are given the same commission that God had given to the first man and woman: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (v. 1). God's creation project, described in Genesis 1:1-- 2:3, is starting over after the destruction of the flood. One change is that human beings are now given permission to eat animals as well as plants. Although humans had originally been given only seeds and fruit to eat (1:29), God now says that every "moving thing that lives shall be food for you" (9:3). God then describes the punishment for murder: a life for a life. If a person "sheds the blood of a human," then "that person's blood" shall be shed. The foundation of this principle is the conviction that it was "in his own image [that] God made humans." Since every person is made in the image and likeness of God, then human life must be cherished and preserved. This belief is later expressed in one of the Ten Commandments: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). > **Questions:** If God made humans in his image, what freedom do we have to take a human life, including our own? When is killing a murder, and when is it something else -- such as a punishment for murder? How should the gift of life be preserved? **1 Samuel 31:4***Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and thrust me through and make sport of me." But his armor-bearer was unwilling, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.* (For context, read [1 Samuel 31:1-7](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxFCMNoDo0nIQk1OOuVDrhcTLC5wO19Dq0Ha49BdL6xkCiYdUWnLceNXHEY8ve5IDrYVOM_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgXxRxJltWH0llMqRbVuS7uWsqa5805Q6QyR1IM1mn7buoLx73jqZhLHWcRd0-2F1jbB2S4IBz-2F1MzYHTVz10Ww7UauZR-2FSABDcCLAti-2BSNxoS90PgUMy97Afb7idr4CnACFt7-2BqEpSlpM8dvZj5no3f5MKtETsGZHAFdVWIrteJaeU8U7yStLla81dKJ5EU12kiNagLuDVPryYdZAIFjQRteI-3D).) At the end of 1 Samuel, the Philistines were fighting against the Israelites, who were under King Saul's command. Some Israelite soldiers fled, and many were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa. In the course of the fighting, the Philistines overtook Saul and his three sons, and they killed the sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua. Saul himself was badly wounded by the arrows of the Philistines. Wanting to die with dignity instead of being tortured by his enemies, Saul asked his armor-bearer to draw his sword and take his life. The armor-bearer was terrified by the request, and did not do it. "So Saul took his own sword and fell on it," killing himself. The armor-bearer responded by falling on his own sword and dying with the king. When the Israelites saw that soldiers were fleeing and that Saul and his sons were dead, they fled their towns and the Philistines came and occupied them. "Saul takes his life to prevent the one appointed by the Lord from being taken captive," observes TWW Team Member Frank Ramirez. "This does not seem to be an act disapproved of by the author of the book." The author of 1 Samuel does not comment on the moral or ethical dimensions of the act, although students of Scripture have debated the issue over the years. > **Questions:** What do you think of the desire to die with dignity? What steps can and should be taken to achieve this goal? What actions should not be taken, and why? **Matthew 27:3-5***When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.* (For context, read [Matthew 27:1-10](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxEE9arX6m0yHZZAbtNhYaDRfrzILEllZn-2Bp3G8nSxVT6-2BQUItOCfS7Lj6xMTNg9RgZqUI_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgckZNwLrc3uyzYZy2uAQDaOD4OTNLGg6uEKSBdovmQIlpETX1pS2SnWUAcV0fvmwnHhJuzCNemM65c7Op9AMdqt6NMKnkWgRJ4gpH2C5gH6p-2BzIP7fgmljQDOuwCRIPUAJFaSC2s4PHKHDBG4WHspTN6Mm8yXTmSVWSOvt4K77v9YJgK2F7eQ1go0rdqcQTK6Knx55YuQ3OMAWir8btY-2Bf4-3D).) After Jesus was handed over to Pilate, Judas felt deep regret for betraying him. The gospel of Matthew tells us that he "repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver" that he had been given by the chief priests. Although he confessed to "betraying innocent blood," the chief priests and the elders were not moved by his statement. Feeling tremendous guilt and anguish, Judas threw the silver on the floor of the temple and "went and hanged himself." This is the only gospel in which his suicide is reported, although Acts 1:15-20 tells a similar story. The chief priests were not willing to put the silver coins in the temple treasury since they were "blood money" (v. 6). So they used the money "to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners," and the field became known as the "Field of Blood" (vv. 7-8). > **Questions:** What was Judas trying to accomplish through his suicide? What other options exist for dealing with the deep suffering of regret, guilt and anguish? How can the church do a better job of ministering to suffering people today? **Ephesians 5:28-30***In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body.* (For context, read [Ephesians 5:25-33.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzx-2F9xuITdvxpNxFuzW6j6ZGMwdNKnJb4wtTZ4-2F3so-2FOUI-2FuCmLICF1KNofq8nZ-2BHUrDT5__-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgWgDQ-2F8Rrj-2FClaHqDwp9LuXG3aD2YywVHT7BOpuzWujpC6Q-2FtAo8VTiErkw0F8XhzwGOCOtgV1KG8Pk9PqgCQsPRgPnLFZm0qOp9tPlo3-2BP5x1KtmfMaHoVVrDU3hPIdPEF6NSEMg4xbU0iG3WilU4kbr7MQwhF11QA4wFJfVrsSxKLWs-2F66Yt-2BZM3c6wixZdbKe5hAADlxZAtjfTGJiwJc-3D)) Near the end of his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul gives instructions on faithful family life. Challenging the Roman structure in which household life revolves around the happiness and success of the husband, Paul instructs husbands to "love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (v. 25). Paul goes on to say that husbands should "love their wives as their own bodies." This section introduces the importance of the human body, and Paul says that a person naturally "nourishes and tenderly cares for it." When a husband loves his wife as he loves his own body, he nourishes and tenderly cares for her -- similar to the Great Commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). But then Paul takes an additional step and says that Christ cares for the church in the very same way, "because we are members of his body." > **Questions:** How can Christians do a better job of nourishing and tenderly caring for their bodies? What love do we owe the body that has been given to us by God? How are we connected to the body of Christ, and what is the impact of this connection on our decisions about living and dying? **For Further Discussion** 1. "I think the Christian understanding is that our lives are in God's hands, not our own," says TWW Team Member Mary Sells. "There is likely no way to interpret a biblical story that would support choosing end of life when critically ill; however, one could also attempt to consider God's gift of free will and wrestle with how that comports with how we might choose to shorten (or lengthen) life when the end is known (terminal illness)." Is life support for a person who cannot recover any more or less merciful for that person? How can life support for a terminally ill person be a gift for loved ones, extending the time for them to come to terms with the impending death? When might life support be a burden for loved ones? Where do you see differences, if any, between choosing to extend life through medical intervention and choosing to end life -- meaning we take the role of God? 2. Jan Steven is a Christian and a supporter of Dying With Dignity Canada. In a post called ["MAID and spirituality,"](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPAATs1ZwGnOUOrIOAtpOkyVZzVZygGa5f70ihjWE5QlLN6WnDTiF-2FofYafC-2BqVFjOqyUYVljymugSzpdzA8m9Y4hXHOCEuR8RzSC6sbQF7VzSo58_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgVDOLWivZCWlM-2BI-2FUn9GS5zAjtnUh80OtToXKVl2M0XiMw48I5CYfWzV-2FlsAz10RapNb4-2FGukRRW1D7-2BMT7X7TVJp7g0GTR3kJSu489sHs5wBeS35q-2FqCxZGBYbwmv01FxT-2BiZSPpOgNqO0OW6OyDPyAjBcRN4HDd-2BW3E2uCHXenF0ETrjlMTY3SbeKmy8rMHk-2FDptVMr61niXhf97xu3nE-3D) she says, "If someone was to ask me to describe what Christianity is without mentioning Jesus, my answer is compassion." She believes that when a person is nearing the end of life and they are suffering, they deserve the compassion that MAID offers to end that suffering. She adds, "We do not have definitive answers for everything, but what I do know for certain is that no one should suffer. If we don't have a direct answer from the scripture, then what is the most compassionate response we can possibly give?" Respond. 3. "MAID is the act of deliberately ending all bodily functions," writes Ewan Goligher in ["When MAID goes to church."](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIzdfsDmeW1D-2Fb6CTA02cb2-2FBf0n7DLp9-2B0Qtg7ZL-2BgtuGwPklPNVnMbfkxIQ5jHwk67Fq4K8X07-2FpR7EE1NVB4-3DhoDf_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgbP-2FVeH4KP2WVN-2FcyEu-2BUCK46X3-2BwZXfvLHEJbqsPGzKy0FwgiJ7Q9cW1W0VIo6odosovXZFwXJ4n5PW-2FjUthYRnL2hJEOSwlhHoz0-2FdIH6yXkwuw3nQdLDWWzemBTyBg7NV48dWbhi0dvqnJHWRSZHVJBITHTLgE-2BcDUZ5O3HjuJGlYt3BBzMJDnibj9KFEWHm3YOtkrI-2FfRfIwGJ5SwpI-3D) He says, "It treats the body as a means to an end, something that we dispose of once it is irremediably broken and the source of trouble for our mental selves. Let us in no way deny the depth of suffering and grief occasioned by physical brokenness -- pain and suffering are real and really evil. Yet just as the disciples tenderly cared for the broken body of our Lord, faithful Christians cannot regard the human body as anything less than priceless." What value do you place on the human body? How can Christians do a better job of tenderly caring for broken bodies and suffering people? 4. "Many families find the discussion of assisted suicide difficult, and if complications occur then the memories are far from positive, with family members left with longlasting questions," [write a medical director and a consulting physician](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPFDJg4V-2B-2FyoapBKpOxgF4O08czxjK1aL82NH11vN5ENsc0LhVEhQP7gfxlt-2F0hKMhw-3D-3D6KU3_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92YmQsxSgeP3fnLN7YSItQcXMwi3ZUMuaSxym7MOw9-2FM8pL5jrTzqHlh9Q9LY-2FWwNLwgby3niKC-2F9rHMJroNOnaA7cB7F8Kn2adxbPDV0BEkFgHhISpL4jMKVjdxRocyeCw7NqRS1uBFYYX0CrVEDgntNt2qO-2F3RdlroxGWKWvhGkgRwO3U66WsRFOyGxwI9bFXJHyVQ1wwcrOjGgDidC0rqGzQgo6LdjSZr6i4pAcHqs5K-2B1Sgyr5H4Lx2SbCR59d6Ms74KXHAkvONkxoxMc2rbvw-3D). "Many professionals find it difficult to assist in the death of a patient, and one study showed that 24% of the doctors who had been involved in a case of assisted suicide regretted their decision." What do these experiences tell you about the difficulties of assisted suicide? How can the church provide guidance to families and physicians facing these challenges? **Responding to the News** Remember that life is a precious gift of God, even when it is made difficult by chronic pain, degenerative disorders and terminal diseases. Respond to the suffering of family members and friends with compassion, and work alongside fellow church members to provide care to people nearing the end of life. **Prayer** We thank you, Creator God, for making us in your image and likeness, and for breathing the breath of life into us. We thank you that no disease or difficulty can separate us from your love. Help us to nourish and tenderly care for our own bodies, as well as the bodies of our neighbors, remembering how precious they are. In Jesus' name. Amen. ****Copyright 2026 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=ZgJpien730E3jlvHMVU5UG-96s0YZH0xD3jXPIjc1dZoMDAwdTAwMI65MW30axmtSeimHD8ixCBK9nMEu549Gbrbl7OvNgLk81w0yB85Itu5SgLJNTA7QlFhgyS2KG_iWU05qgAHcvvVvMW-kcOIoWikhq1rFA71K-GGt-J8Qsh2oB-rp64tcEovAVD43BZDEWCKXWQC86Vx90yS1bTKou02OV9u6Wcb6elqXl-hIMn5naLGauFut6rl-ryxUrMvNw3wv29ZMLZjccvBm_s6JzGtKuNzAtuSW9u4xC-lM0vCZhILS6HTbaeBQ7RncqMMAvybIHS9H5keE9IK3Zt6oOPGV-PYv5M5Dnxy-ImKsnbJ__-L-ns3PbKvs_IxyxzMzr7DcQOF9QaLhKa1kdYDD2_S12N2LKICjgKTQ5m5qSeP4PLyut9CUgMY_N7kAHJD0tKN6_m2jzLIm78co7Qkue2762kMFTkL5hISuElaoQ8xps44u3zVWjEXqcxRP4xoCmP6SJRhIGMXLs-REM7gJJRKKx2b1zNL9Ldm7vvRYRZ0bjR0KDTbacc5FFSretolBJolNYDIR7DBieh57jxf7Obm74nKKWBZ_YdUcTiYvL10G55qHDlOvGNsAp8U8FTqf5HW1P4pp0A=), The Wired Word for 09/27/2026, The Wired Word, 01m3a2b21q0z41dbn8wcjw0fh0.