The “Archbishop” and the Culture of Death: A Modernist Betrayal of Catholic Doctrine on Human Dignity
The National Catholic Register portal reports that “Archbishop” Ronald Hicks of New York has called the state’s forthcoming assisted suicide law — set to take effect August 5, 2026 — an “assault on human life,” warning of a “slippery slope” toward a “throwaway mentality.” Disability rights advocates, including Jose Hernandez, a C-5 quadriplegic, joined the chorus of opposition, citing concerns about insurance coercion and the devaluation of the vulnerable. The “archbishop” invoked the death of “Pope” Francis as a model of dignified natural death, and various pro-life organizations emphasized palliative care and hospice alternatives. On the surface, this appears to be a rare instance of a post-conciliar churchman opposing a manifestly evil law. Yet a rigorous examination from the perspective of integral Catholic faith reveals the profound inadequacy, theological confusion, and modernist subtext that pervade this entire discourse — an inadequacy that is itself a fruit of the conciliar revolution.