Edmonton Archbishop: Oppose Euthanasia Legislation

As Roman Catholics we have a serious responsibility to speak out in defense of the precious gift of human life whenever it is threatened.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA (LifeSiteNews.com) - Archbishop Richard Smith of the Archdiocese of Edmonton has launched a campaign urging his parishioners to become informed and get involved in the battle against euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.

The campaign follows on the heels of the recommendation by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops that all Catholics, with the help and guidance of their bishops, make themselves aware of the dangers posed by the acceptance of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Currently private member's bill (Bill C-384), which would legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia, is waiting to be debated in Parliament.

Archbishop Smith is arranging to meet with all Edmonton-area federal politicians to urge them to fight the bill and is urging Catholics to lobby their own MPs.

"As Roman Catholics we have a serious responsibility to speak out in defense of the precious gift of human life whenever it is threatened," Archbishop Smith wrote in a pastoral letter.

"Therefore, I am asking that you become informed on this issue and to contact your Member of Parliament. Let him or her know that such a law would be morally unacceptable and unworthy of our country."

Archbishop Smith countered the euphemistic "compassion" argument used by euthanasia proponents by explaining clearly the reality of what legal euthanasia and assisted suicide would engender.

"Many today will try to argue that either euthanasia or assisted suicide is a 'compassionate' response to suffering. We must not allow such misuse of language to blind us to the fact that the indisputable issue at the heart of these practices is the killing of another human being," the archbishop wrote.

"By euthanasia is meant the deliberate killing of a person by action (e.g. lethal injection) or omission (e.g. withholding medically indicated treatment), with the purpose of eliminating suffering. As a direct and intended termination of human life, it is immoral and not permissible."

The archbishop used the pastoral letter to inform his parishioners that Bill C-384 is scheduled for debate in Parliament on September 29th, and that legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada would be a major social failure.

"The common good of any society depends upon the commitment of all citizens to uphold the dignity of every human life at each moment and circumstance."

"I encourage you to contact your local Member of Parliament and insist that euthanasia and assisted suicide not be legalized in Canada," Archbishop Smith concluded.

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Edmonton-St. Albert Tory MP Brent Rathgeber told the Edmonton Sun that he has received hundreds of e-mails from constituents on the issue, with only one being in favor of the Bill.

"I was opposed to Bill C-384 long before I met with His Grace or received the voluminous letters and e-mails from my constituents," Rathgeber said. "He was preaching to the converted."

Rathgeber wrote on his blog, "I am strongly opposed to both the concept behind, and the details of, this Bill. I do not accept the argument that euthanasia or assisted suicide is a compassionate response to suffering. As life nears its natural end, the compassionate response to any pain and hardship is good palliative care, not the termination of the patient's life."

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition website has an analysis of Bill C-384 and offers sample letters to help in writing to Members of Parliament.

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