MESSAGE FROM THE PERMANENT COUNCIL TO THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL
on Permitting Persons Living with Mental Illness to Access Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
“As members of the CCCB Permanent Council, we remain profoundly concerned about, and strongly disagree with the expansion of the ‘eligibility criteria’ for euthanasia and assisted suicide (i.e., ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ or ‘MAiD’) to persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness.
Expanding access to euthanasia and assisted suicide for individuals living with a mental illness closes the door to any hope of recovery. Furthermore, as the CCCB has affirmed on a number of previous occasions, euthanasia/assisted suicide undermines the universal and inviolable dignity of human life and harms the building up of society; it cannot be condoned under any circumstances. It is even more objectionable, therefore, when the government extends euthanasia/assisted suicide to individuals whose mental condition may predispose them to suicide, especially since it is known that health care across Canada is failing to provide accessible and reliable treatment for patients living with mental health challenges, including mental illnesses. To enable or assist in the suicide of these patients directly contradicts national suicide prevention strategies and reneges on our collective social responsibility to provide persons living with mental health challenges with treatment, support, and hope through therapeutic interventions.”
Read the full letter here:
2023-05-05 – Message to the Catholic Faithful_MAID – final
2023-05-05 – Message aux fidèles catholiques_l’AMM – final
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OPEN LETTER FROM THE PERMANENT COUNCIL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
on Permitting Persons Living with Mental Illness to Access Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
To the Government of Canada,
The Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) remains deeply concerned that the federal government is in the process of expanding the ‘eligibility criteria’ for euthanasia and assisted suicide, i.e., ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ or ‘MAiD,’ to persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. Despite repeated calls of profound concern from mental health experts and a recent poll showing that only 31% of Canadians support such legislation, the federal government forges ahead with expanding access to MAiD to persons living with mental illness, coming into effect on 17 March 2024.
Expanding access to euthanasia and assisted suicide for individuals living with a mental illness closes the door to any hope of recovery. Furthermore, as the CCCB has affirmed on a number of previous occasions, euthanasia/assisted suicide undermines the universal and inviolable dignity of human life and harms the building up of society. It is even more objectionable, therefore, when the government extends euthanasia/assisted suicide to individuals whose mental condition may predispose them to suicide, especially since it is known that health care across Canada is failing to provide accessible and reliable treatment for patients living with mental health challenges including mental illnesses. To enable or assist in the suicide for these patients directly contradicts national suicide prevention strategies and reneges on our collective social responsibility to provide persons living with mental health challenges with treatment, support, and hope through therapeutic interventions.
Read the full letter here:
2023-05-05 – Open letter to Government_MAID – final
2023-05-05 – Lettre ouverte au gouvernement du Canada_l’AMM – final
Resources:
Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care
Horizons d’espérance : Une trousse d’outils pour les paroisses catholiques sur les soins palliatifs
