Catholic Health Association opposes Bill C-407 legalizing assisted suicide

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

The Catholic Health Association of Canada (CHAC) has written to the leaders of Canada's federal political parties to register its opposition to Bill C-407, which would legalize assisted suicide.

"The association holds the position that euthanasia and assisted suicide are contrary to the practice of holistic health care, cannot be regulated to prevent abuses, and are inconsistent with Canada's reputation as a protector of personal dignity and human rights," the CHAC said in an Oct. 3 media statement.

CHAC said euthanasia and assisted suicide "undermine the dignity of the human person by denigrating the dying process and by rejecting the community dimension of the person."

The CHAC urged politicians to react to the challenges of suffering terminally ill people by improving access to better end-of-life care. The CHAC represent more than 90 Catholic hospitals, homes and long-term care organizations.

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