Response from the CCCB to Bill C-7 on Medical Assistance in Dying

Medical Assistance in Dying

On October 20th, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement expressing their opposition to the re-tabling of Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code around medical assistance in dying re-introduced by the federal government on October 5, 2020. This statement is in addition to the joint ecumenical and interfaith statement released on 14 October 2020 entitled: “We Can and Must do Much Better – Religious Leaders in Canada denounce Bill C-7, ‘An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)’“.

As the legislation introduced this month remains unchanged from that which was tabled on 24 February 2020, the Bishops of Canada once again express their serious concerns regarding Bill C-7 and call upon all Canadians to express their opposition to the Bill. As said in the statement: “The proposed legislation of Bill C-7 remains deeply flawed, unjust, and morally pernicious. The Bishops of Canada call on Catholics and all people of good will to make their voices heard in opposition to the Bill. Similarly, all Canadian legislators should recall that no law that permits the taking of innocent human life can ever be morally justified. Such a law would always violate the intrinsic dignity of the human person.”  This statement can be found at the following link: https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CCCB-statement-on-Bill-C-7-20-October-2020-EN.pdf