We can not leave unborn children bereft of their right to life solely based on their sex. Enacting (Bill C-233) Canada can become a catalyst in humanitarian endeavours while serving as a beacon of hope to developing nations where gender inequality persists.
Read MoreIs it important to you that other people KNOW and RESPECT your HEALTH CARE WISHES?
If yes, you are invited to complete this Manitoba faith-based, advance health care directive. The purpose of this document is to direct others (medical staff, health care proxy, family members) about treatment decisions if, and only if, you are no longer able to make decisions about your own care. An advance health care directive informs you, your family, friends, health care professionals, and appointed proxy or proxies of your wishes about your health care. Click here to download information on the preparation of a faith-based health care directive or visit the Archdiocese of St. Boniface, Marriage, Family and Life webpage: click here.
Here’s a short and helpful video on preparing your Health Care Directive…
Catholic Clinical Ethicist Katarina Lee discusses Advance Planning in this video…
Bill C-7 Federal Government’s New Proposed Law on Euthanasia – Act Now to Oppose Changes
Bill C-7 is “An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)." Bill C-7, if passed into law, can cause extensive and undeniable harm to sick and/or vulnerable people. The Bill will expand the eligibility criteria for euthanasia and assisted suicide by removing the “reasonable foreseeability of natural death” criterion currently in the Criminal Code. As written, Bill C-7 will also loosen some of the existing “safeguards” and allow patients whose death is “reasonably foreseeable” to waive final consent to receiving euthanasia by making an advance directive, which they will not be able to change if they cannot communicate, but have changed their mind.
With Bill C-7, the Government has effectively short-circuited the mandatory assessment of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada as provided in the original Act of 17 June 2016 to amend the Criminal Code, which specifically called for “a parliamentary review of [the Act’s] provisions and of the state of palliative care in Canada to commence at the start of the fifth year following the day on which [the Act] receives Royal Assent.”
Bill C-7 is a grave concern, as it is currently in the Second Reading stage of the legislation process, which will then be followed by Committee hearings. See the government progression of Bill C-7 here.
The harm that this Bill can and will do is undeniable and extensive if it is passed. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is working with other national organizations and faith groups to develop a common statement about Bill C-7. The Bishops sincerely hope and earnestly request that the House of Commons exercises its ability to refer Bill C-7 to a committee for detailed examination before Second Reading, as is permitted according to the Standing Orders (Ch. 9 § 73), in order to allow input from expert witnesses in a manner which is fully public, transparent, and open to a wide range of voices – religious and non-religious alike – as well as in full and prudent consideration of inviolable moral and ethical principles, the common good, and concern for future generations.
The Bishops are calling on all Canadians to make their voices heard; they strongly urge members of Parliament to acknowledge the giftedness of life as an inalienable right not to be taken away by others, the importance of compassion for the ill and the dying, as well as our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Contact your Member of Parliament (MP) and voice your concern about this legislation. Remind them of the long-term impact this law will have on all people and ask them to take the time to examine this Bill carefully. Read more in the full CCCB statement here.
The Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience has provided information on the impact of this Bill on patients and doctors, in particular our Ontario doctors. They also have direct links for e-mailing your MP. You can see their website here.
We have created a one-page information sheet for you. You can download it here.
In these times of social and physical isolation, children are becoming an ever-more integral part of our every day lives. In this National Week for Life and Family, Archbishop Albert suggests some ideas of reflexion for families. These times of trial may produce, if we are open, some of the strongest moments of family, and in growing in what it means to become fully human.
Ottawa - Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the proposed changes to the law on MAiD. "On behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Canada, I write to voice our very serious concern regarding the proposed changes to the present legislation on what is referred to as “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAiD). We unequivocally affirm and maintain the fundamental belief in the sacredness of all human life, a value that we share with many others in our country, including persons of different faiths and no faith at all. Despite the misleading euphemism, “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAiD) remains simply euthanasia and assisted suicide – that is, the direct taking of human life or the participation in his/her suicide, which can never be justified. Suffering and death are indeed terrifying and the instinct to flinch from pain is universal. But euthanasia and assisted suicide are not the answer. We strongly urge the Government of Canada, before proceeding further, to undertake a more extensive, thorough, impartial, and prolonged consultation on the question, in order to ensure all pertinent factors – social, medical, and moral – are carefully and thoroughly considered." Click here for the rest of the letter.
The information above is taken from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) website.
Ottawa - Most are aware of the Federal Government's proposed changes to the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Act. While the time for completing the government questionnaire has passed, there is still an opportunity to let your voices be heard. The Minister of Justice has indicated that he wants to present a bill to Parliament in the middle of February - you can send a letter to, or visit, your Member of Parliament until such time. Click here to view and download the template letter put together by the Archdiocese of Winnipeg’s Office of Social Justice.
Send your letter to:
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6
No postage is required.
You can also email the letter to:
Prime Minister Trudeau Justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
David Lametti David.lametti@parl.gc.ca
Patty Hajdu Patty.hajdu@parl.gc.ca
And your own Member of Parliament - emails can be found online.
Canada - It has been approximately four years since the Federal Government enacted the Medically Assisted Dying law. Since that time at least 6,700 people have chosen a medically assisted death. Under our current law that means that 6,700 people qualified for MAID even with the restrictions embodied in the legislation. Now the Federal Government is considering amending the law in a manner that will make MAID available for even more people, putting more vulnerable people at risk.
The present legislation has the following restrictions:
You have to have a serious illness or disease;
You must be so advanced in your illness that there is no chance of reversal of the condition;
You must experience unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be relieved under conditions that you accept and;
You must be at a point where your natural death has become reasonably foreseeable.
In September of 2019 the Superior Court of Quebec, in Trunchon v. The Attorney General of Canada decided that the criteria that “you must be at a point where your natural death has become reasonably foreseeable” was unconstitutional. The Court said that clause should be struck from the law, but it gave the Federal Government until March 11, 2020, to revise the law. The Federal Government decided not to appeal the Quebec Court’s decision which means that it must start its review, and if the Government does not get an extension, revise the law by March 11, 2020. Otherwise we will be in a situation, like the abortion issue, where there is no guiding legislation on advance directives for access to MAID.
Our federal Justice Minister, David Lametti, has stated that “Canadian Society has evolved quite rapidly since the legislation passed and the experience of other countries has also helped moved public opinion” (National Post, January 12, 2020) He further has stated that “People are generally comfortable now with the concept and so my guess is that we will be able to move on those larger issues” (National Post, January 12, 2020).
If we remain silent these misconceptions of what Canadians are comfortable with will be proved. How many of us are truly aware of what is happening in other countries or even our own country with respect to medically assisted suicide? The larger issues that the Federal Government is moving for review are: the ability to have an advance directive regarding MAID, the ability of mature minors to access MAID and the ability of those with mental illness to access MAID.
An advance directive allows for a person to plan for their suicide. Presently if a person cannot give a legally informed consent then there is no access to MAID. An advance directive would allow a person while they are still mentally able to do so, to direct the circumstances under which they want a medically assisted death. So, for example, if I were diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) today I could, if the law were changed, indicate in writing who I wanted to make the decision to end my life if I could no longer make the decision, and I could advise roughly when I wanted that to happen. I may write these directives years before the need arises.
The other issue under review is whether minors can access MAID. In this regard the Federal Government is reviewing whether mature minors with an incurable disease can choose medically assisted death. This means that children, who in someone’s opinion could clearly assess their life, can choose to end their life. A child who cannot yet understand the gift of life, in all its forms, would be able to end life! Regardless of how mature the child may seem, that child would be influenced by parents, adults and society, some of whom believe that all suffering should and must be avoided. Recently in the news, there have been stories of minors who, on discovering they have an incurable disease and limited time to live, have used that time to do wonderful things for society and to further experience the gift of life.
The other issue under review is whether those with underlying mental illness can have access to MAID. This would mean that those with depression or some other illness could choose to have a medically assisted death. But who makes the final decision for them? Who decides that the person will never be able to live with the illness or lead any kind of life whatsoever?
All these issues require lengthy research and discussion. Contrary to what has been stated a great many Canadians are not comfortable with the Medically Assisted Dying legislation and certainly not comfortable with expanding access to it. But we who disagree with Medically Assisted Dying and its expansion must speak up and speak loudly. All are encouraged to form parish groups where the issue of MAID can be discussed, and through sharing plans can be developed for acting. At the very least each of us should speak out, complete the survey the Government has now put online, speak and/or write to your Member of Parliament, the Justice Minister and the Prime Minister.
In the words of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Physician-assisted suicide is an affront to what is most noble, most precious in the human endeavour and a grave injustice and violation of the dignity of every human person whose natural and inherent inclination is indeed the preservation of life. We ought to surround our sick and dying, our vulnerable and disabled, with love and attention, with care and true life-giving compassion.
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Article by Patti Fitzmaurice, the Archdiocese of Winnipeg's Social Justice Coordinator
For questions and inquiries, please contact:
Nadine Fetherston
(204) 594-0295
nwlfmanitoba@gmail.com
Tim Scatliff
NWLF committee facilitator
