Canada: Church leaders protest as assisted suicide becomes legal

Catholic Church leaders across Canada have expressed grave concern today following a Supreme Court ruling legalising assisted suicide. Under the unanimous decision, which overturned a 1993 ban, doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable medical conditions to die. The court said the law impinged on Canadians' rights.

The case was brought by a civil rights group on behalf of two women, Kay Carter and Gloria Taylor, with degenerative diseases. Both have since died.

Archbishop Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement:

Catholics are called by their faith to assist all those in need, particularly the poor, the suffering and the dying. Comforting the dying and accompanying them in love and solidarity has been considered by the Church since its beginning a principal expression of Christian mercy.

Helping someone commit suicide, however, is neither an act of justice or mercy, nor is it part of palliative care. The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada today does not change Catholic teaching. "An act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, our Creator." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2277).

The Bishops of our country invite Canadians, especially Catholics, to do all they can to bring comfort and support for all those who are dying and for their loved ones, so that no one, because of loneliness, vulnerability, loss of autonomy, or fear of pain and suffering, feels they have no choice but to commit suicide. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops will continue to promote palliative and home care, and to encourage all the faithful to work for the betterment of the elderly, the disabled, the ill, and those who are socially isolated.

My brother Bishops and I entreat governments and courts to interpret today's judgment in its narrowest terms, resisting any calls to go beyond this to so-called acts of "mercy killing" and euthanasia. We again call on provincial and territorial governments to ensure good-quality palliative care in all their jurisdictions. We also urge governments and professional associations to implement policies and guidelines which ensure respect for the freedom of conscience of all health-care workers as well as administrators who will not and cannot accept suicide as a medical solution to pain and suffering.

Vancouver Archbishop J Michael Miller, CSB, today issued the following statement:

The Archbishop is also writing a letter on this issue to all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vancouver which will be read at this weekend's Masses.

"Today the Supreme Court of Canada erred grievously in stripping Canadians of the protection that the law afforded them against assisted suicide.

I am deeply troubled by the Court's decision to overturn the law, and I call on Catholics to join with other advocates for vulnerable persons to respond with urgency.

Until today, Canadian legislation has been designed to protect those inclined toward ending their lives. That protection has now been eliminated.

At the root of the desire for assisted suicide is the fact that adequate palliative care is often unavailable, which can lead to thoughts of suicide. In order to provide hope for those who suffer, we call on all levels of government, the healing professions, and hospitals and care facilities to ensure truly equal and inclusive access to such care. We have the technology to control pain, and we have the ability to overcome loneliness and despair.

We call upon the federal government to enact legislation which will provide all possible legal safeguards for those who are vulnerable to suicide."

Source: CCCB/Archdiocese of Vancouver