The webpage of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) on euthanasia and assisted suicide has been revamped to be more accessible and facilitate research.
The new web page offers links to: CCCB statements, resources from the different Regional Episcopal Assemblies; five major campaigns against physician-assisted suicide; resources for parish communities; resources of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family; and a number of other articles and media reports.
Link to the Webpage
In February 2015, the Carter v Canada (AG) decision by the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favor of physician assisted suicide, mandating the Parliament to pass legislation to set the criteria. The deadline to pass the legislation was supposed to be February of this year, but the Court extended it to June. The bill, C-14, was introduced earlier this month, and the bishops responded thus: «Bill C-14, no matter how it may be amended, is an affront to human dignity, an erosion of human solidarity, and a danger to all vulnerable persons — particularly the aged, disabled, infirm and sick who so often find themselves isolated and marginalized.»
The Special Joint Committee of the Government of Canada on “Physician-Assisted Dying” made some remarkable recommendations for the legislation. Among the committee’s conclusions were recommendations for making assisted suicide available to adolescents and children who might be considered “mature minors.” As well, the committee recommended that psychological suffering be included in criteria for eligibility and that all health-care practitioners must at minimum provide “effective referrals” to those who want to kill themselves.
See some of the Church’s efforts to stop the push for euthanasia here:
https://zenit.org/articles/statement-on-bill-c-14-by-canadas-catholic-bishops/
https://zenit.org/articles/canadian-bishops-respond-to-recommendation-to-extend-assisted-suicide-to-children/
https://zenit.org/articles/church-in-canada-reiterates-killing-isnt-care/
