Bishop’s Letter to Parliament Re: Bill C:384
Mr. Richard Harris
Member of Parliament
206 – 575 Quebec Street
Prince George, BC V2L 1W6
Dear Mr. Harris:
I am writing on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George, which covers the territory from Fort St. John to and including the Queen Charlotte Islands. I wish to express our position regarding the proposed Bill C-384.
It would appear quite clear that legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide legalizes the taking of the life of another person. The principles involved are the intrinsic value and sanctity of human life and the relational or interdependent quality of human life which imposes a sense of mutual responsibility. Although a legal distinction is made between euthanasia and assisted suicide, there is no ethical difference. The moral responsibility is the same whether the third party provides the pills or gives an injection.
Catholics believe that life is a gift of God’s love and goodness. We do not have absolute dominion over the gift of life; we are stewards, not owners of life. Consequently, the time and circumstances of our birth and death, and that of others, are not ours to choose. Death is an inevitable part of life and a transition to eternal life.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide have broad and grave consequences. The frail, poor, elderly and others who are vulnerable would be at the mercy of third parties who could exercise pressure on them to see an earlier death as an option. They could even feel compelled to ask for a premature death if it is available. This danger would only increase as health resources decrease.
The role of the physician and the patients’ trust in the physician would be undermined. Palliative care would be marginalized. If assisted suicide or euthanasia were permitted for the terminally ill on the basis of their suffering, their autonomy and their individual self-determination over life itself, how could it be denied to those who are depressed, infirm, frail or suffering for other reasons?
Legitimately euthanasia or assisted suicide, which allows one person to kill another, would diminish respect for human life. It would also erode the basic trust that human life will be protected – a trust that is essential to the functioning of any society.
Thank you, Mr. Harris, for giving attention to our concerns. Thank you for serving our people and country the way you do.
Sincerely yours,
Gerald Wiesner, O.M.I.
Bishop
GW:malj