Bill C-14, which will amend the criminal code to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide, has been passed by the House of Commons and is now before the Senate. Healthcare workers and institutions are concerned that they may be required to participate in euthanasia and assisted suicide against their moral convictions.
“… I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days…” (Deut. 30:19)
Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 5, 2016
To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth,
Dear Friends,
Greetings and blessings to all of you!
Last week the government of Canada introduced Bill C-14 which sets out proposed legislation to make available “assisted dying” to those who wish to use medical means to end their lives. It must be made clear that this is contrary to our Catholic understanding and teachings regarding life and death.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released a statement and many individual bishops, including Archbishop Mancini, have issued their own statements. In part Archbishop Mancini’s reads:
February 26, 2016
To the Catholic Faithful of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth
Dear Friends,
On February 25th, 2016, the joint committee of the Government of Canada released its report entitled: Medical Assistance in Dying: A Patient-Centered Approach. It is with great sadness and disappointment that I write this pastoral note to express the inadequacy and unacceptability of these recommendations to the Canadian Government as it prepares itself to pass legislation on the matter of assisted suicide.
