Quebec ‘aid in dying’ legislation denounced

June 14, 2013

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family – an initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus – has denounced legislation that would legalize “aid in dying” in Quebec.

“The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) radically opposes … current efforts to camouflage euthanasia – a criminal offense that falls within federal jurisdiction – as ‘medical aid in dying’ in an unjust bill that will bring about dramatic consequences for all Quebecers,” COLF said in a statement.

The statement continued:

In countries that have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide – despite the safeguards and restrictions that have been put in place – we’ve seen increased depreciation for human life; in the name of budgetary efficiency, particularly vulnerable people have been encouraged to ask for euthanasia or to commit suicide. This danger is real and is likely to increase with the aging of our population, the rise in demand for health care services and the related costs.

We must not give anyone – especially not our doctors – the power to kill. We must keep our hospitals safe and protect the weakest and the most vulnerable among us … Convinced of the beauty and greatness of the gift of human life—even in the sometimes difficult circumstances created by illness or disability—Christians should, nevertheless, oppose overly aggressive treatment and the maintenance of life at all costs. They know that the denial or termination of extraordinary treatments, which are not anticipated to bear the desired fruits, [has] nothing to do with euthanasia.

 

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Further information:

• The Catholic Organization for Life and Family reacts to the Quebec bill on end of life care (COLF)
• Quebec moves forward on dying with dignity by tabling controversial legislation (Canadian Press)