(LifeSiteNews) — A disabled man known for speaking out against Canada’s aggressive euthanasia regime recently received sacraments, including Extreme Unction, from a traditional Catholic priest.
Roger Foley, who suffers from an incurable and degenerative brain disease, told LifeSiteNews that he welcomed the opportunity to have a priest visit after a period of health decline despite the fact that he has long been irreligious.
“It was a very wonderful experience,” Foley said regarding the visit. “I felt honored and humbled, especially with the kindness and knowledge of the priest. I would tell him how confused I am, and he would tell me more about the Catholic faith. He answered a lot of my questions.”
Foley admitted that it is difficult for him to have faith, “especially now because of all the bad things that have happened to me,” though he accepts Catholic teaching about the sacraments. His condition makes it difficult for him to move, and he can no longer eat or drink, receiving his nourishment from IV fluids. On top of this, he has suffered pain, severe fatigue, and cognitive decline, as well as cruel behavior from hospital staff.
However, he keeps an open mind and has begun to pray at the encouragement of an acquaintance of his. “So I’ve been praying for the last month. It was Feb. 26 when she told me that I should start praying. I did.”
At that point, Foley’s condition had deteriorated in part because of hospital management’s order that his room’s amber lights — an important accommodation for his health, due to his light-sensitivity — be switched to fluorescent lighting. These standard lights induce in Foley severe pain, temporary blindness, and visual scarring and triggered a rapid health decline.
Help Roger fund independent home care
Foley then ordered amber lights, including a desk light, for his room, but staff were told not to use them and have even had their jobs threatened if they dare switch the lights back to amber bulbs, Foley told LifeSiteNews.
The night after he began to pray, hospital staff said they were fine with using amber lights for his room. This went on for two and half weeks, but then hospital managers ordered that fluorescent lights be used instead again.
“But I still keep up praying,” said Foley.
“I’m on the fence with faith. I’m confused. Seeing how horrible people are in authority and how they abuse their power. And if there is someone watching over us, why do they allow things like this?” pondered Foley.
He shared that he brings these questions to God in prayer, and he looks forward to meeting again with the priest who gave him Extreme Unction.
Non-Catholic Christians who are in danger of death can receive sacraments from a Catholic priest if they “manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed,” according to canon law.
While Foley’s disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, is incurable, he shared that he would be able to slow it down if he could receive care at home.
“I don’t have access to that and that’s what I’m fighting for. I’m fighting to protect my body from accelerated deterioration,” said Foley.
He said hospital management is blocking his access to home care, despite the fact that his doctor wants to help him obtain it, for his health.
Help Roger fund independent home care
Foley found out about individualized funding for home care or self-directive funding while in hospital. He has been in hospital for over 10 years, after entering in February 2016.
He has shared that he has been pressured multiple times to accept euthanasia. “It’s very traumatizing when that’s offered, especially so bluntly and also in combination with being blocked with the supports that you need to live as well,” he previously told LifeSiteNews. “I just decided that I’m gonna continue fighting for my life and that my life still has value, even though I’ve been told to my face it doesn’t.”
Foley notes that his own case is part of a broader pattern of a dysfunctional Canadian health care system that fails to care for patients and offers them assisted suicide when their condition worsens.
“Even cancer patients in Canada are so neglected that they reach stage four and then are offered MAiD [i.e., euthanasia],” he told LifeSiteNews.
He wants readers to know, “I’m not giving up. I’ve got my sights focused on finally getting home.”
Life Care Network Inc., one of the organizations advocating for Roger’s care and well-being, has set up a LifeFunder crowd-funding campaign to help raise funds for provision of private personal support workers (PSWs) and other critical assistance.
To consider helping Roger with your personal gift of support, please visit https://www.lifefunder.com/roger/.
Note that LifeCareNetwork.ca is managing the LifeFunder on a pro-bono basis, with 100 percent of proceeds going directly towards Roger’s care.