Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Quebec euthanasia bill blasted for enshrining ‘power to kill’

Quebec euthanasia bill blasted for enshrining ‘power to kill’

Last updated on: June 17, 2013 at 10:03 pm by CNA Daily News

Quebec euthanasia bill blasted for enshrining ‘power to kill’ 2013-06-17T22:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Quebec City, Canada, Jun 17, 2013 / 04:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A Quebec bill to allow lethal drug prescriptions for patients in pain would give doctors “the power to kill” and further lessen the value society places on the ill and dying, a Canadian pro-life group said.

“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. It is a matter of public safety, of dignity, of true compassion and solidarity,” the Catholic Organization for Life and Family said in a statement.

Social Services Minister Veronique Hivon introduced the Quebec government’s medically assisted suicide bill on June 12.

The bill would allow a doctor to administer fatal drugs to a mentally sound patient who repeatedly gives written consent, CBC News reports. Two physicians would have to approve a suicide request.

Patients who qualify for euthanasia would not need to accept all available treatments. Rather, they would qualify if they experience “constant and unbearable physical or psychological pain which cannot be relieved in a manner the person deems tolerable.”

Canada’s federal government has said it will review the proposed bill’s implications, as assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal under the national criminal code.

“The laws that prohibit euthanasia and assisted suicide exist to protect all Canadians, including those who are potentially the most vulnerable, such as people who are sick or elderly, and people with disabilities,” Canadian Justice Minister and Attorney General Rob Nicholson said June 12.

He noted that a large majority of the Canadian parliament voted against changing the national laws.

Hivon said she believed society was ready for the bill, which she described as allowing people at the end of life “to die with autonomy and dignity.”

However, the Catholic Organization for Life and Family, which was co-founded by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus, warned that justifications for the bill serve as camouflage for euthanasia.

“It is all very well to play with words, but the fact remains that killing is not caring,” the group said. “Let us put an end to confusing the terminology.”

The organization said palliative care is “the only human response” to suffering at the end of life. It urged Quebec to “preserve the mutual trust that is the foundation for genuine relationships between us.”

The group also pointed to worrying precedents in other nations.

“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,” the organization said. “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.”

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family noted that following the legalization of euthanasia in Belgium in 2002, cases in the country rose from 235 in 2003 to 1,133 in 2011. Strict adherence to promised standards is lacking, it said, while Belgian euthanasia lobbyists are now seeking legal euthanasia for children and those with dementia.

The organization reminded Christians of the biblical injunctions against murder, citing the biblical commandment “You shall not kill,” and God’s words in Genesis, “I will require a reckoning for human life.”

At the same time, it explained, Christians should oppose “overly aggressive treatment and the maintenance of life at all costs.”

Denying or ending “extraordinary treatments” are not euthanasia, the group said.

Americas

Previous Post

June 17, 2013

Catholic, Orthodox groups unite to promote online safety

Next Post

June 17, 2013 Cardinal pushes for law to protect pain-capable unborn

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Nebuchadnezzar" mean in Akkadian?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Chosen by the gods King of Babylon O Nabu, protect my heir The Lord reigns