The Archbishop of Toronto (Canada), Bishop Francis Leo, noted that Catholics “must remain firm in our faith, proclaiming the gospel of life and a civilization of love” as assisted suicide grows in popularity around the world. .
Physician-assisted suicide was legalized in Canada under the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program in June 2016. In the United States this practice is legal in 10 states, including Oregon, Washington and Colorado, as well like in Washington, D.C.
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“It is a farce, honestly, that euthanasia is gaining traction,” Bishop Leo told EWTN News president and chief operating officer Montse Alvarado on October 3 on the program EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.
The prelate said that “unfortunately, in different parts of the country more than others, (it is not only) legalized, but it is promoted.”
Physician-assisted dying is the fifth leading cause of death in Canada, along with cerebrovascular diseases, and the program is expanding. It is “the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world,” according to August research by Christian think tank Thistle.
This summer, a Canadian nonprofit filed a lawsuit to allow assisted suicide for those suffering from mental illness.
Bishop Leo pointed out that assisted suicide and euthanasia “are not the answer.” “Thou shalt not kill. “You shall not kill, starting with yourself,” he said. “And we worship the Lord of life, and He is the Lord of life and death.”
“’The Lord has come so that we may have life, and life more abundantly,’” the archbishop recalled, quoting John 10:10, which he described as “one of my favorite passages.”
The prelate emphasized the need to “live life abundantly here as we travel on earth and then enter eternal life, abundant life in heaven.”
“But since we are here, in the midst of the temptations that surround us, we must stand firm in our faith, proclaiming the gospel of life and a civilization of love, which is both at the beginning of life in the womb and at the end of life, when people are so vulnerable and are tempted to commit suicide,” emphasized Bishop Leo.
When asked how the Church is countering the physician-assisted suicide movement, Bishop Leo said the Canadian bishops are promoting palliative care and the sacredness of life.
“Assisted suicide, euthanasia, medical help and death: it is a farce, it should (never) have happened,” Bishop Leo continued. “We fought tooth and nail — the Catholic bishops conference — and what we are doing now is helping people realize that the only alternative is palliative care.”
Canadian bishops promote Horizons of hopea toolkit for Catholic parishes on palliative care, which is an approach to health care that strives to improve the quality of life and alleviate suffering of people with serious or terminal illnesses.
“We are encouraging our communities to create parish groups to help people understand the evils of euthanasia and assisted suicide, and the benefits of palliative care in an even broader context of life and the gift of life,” explained Bishop Leo.
The Archbishop of Toronto admitted that the mission of promoting life is a challenge, “because the culture is not very welcoming to that, but that does not scare us at all.”
In that sense, he assured that they are committed to it and, “with the strength of the intuitions of the Holy Spirit, I believe that we will definitely do the best we can.”
“I have already heard stories of people who, because someone was on their deathbed and someone spoke to them about faith and about the love of God, they changed their minds: that is what we are called to do to be ministers of the Lord, of the new alliance and of life.”
“Just last summer we had the bishops’ conference in the Archdiocese of Toronto, in conjunction with the Pontifical Academy for Life, (which organized) a wonderful international interfaith symposium on palliative care,” Bishop Leo continued.
“We look forward to the fruits of this: how to strengthen the Church’s proclamation of the gospel of life and encourage people to understand the gift of life, the sacredness of life given by God,” he said.
“So the challenge is there,” the prelate said, “but we are up to it.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Kate Quinones
Kate Quiñones is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency and a member of College Fix. He has publications in the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register and CatholicVote. He graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.