February 25, 2022
Dear Friends of CCBI,
In 2020 – 2021, our CCBI Bulletin covered many matters dealing with COVID-19 vaccines and other ethical issues brought about by the pandemic. During the summer of 2020, when so many elderly and vulnerable people in Long Term Care homes lost their lives to the virus, it became obvious that Canada had to improve not only the homes, but the quality of life of the residents and working conditions for staff. CCBI said that, post-pandemic, we would work to monitor those factors, emphasizing the care of the elderly and the state of our long term care homes. Other serious issues came to the fore, including the way indigenous peoples and people of colour have been treated, historically. As a bioethics institute we need to look at all these issues from the perspective of health and well-being, and from a Catholic perspective we need to point out inequalities in health care and ensure that the ‘preferential option for the poor’ (in poverty’s many forms) is observed as a paramount consideration.
At the same time, we want to continue our long-time emphasis on palliative and end-of-life care, in light of society’s current embracing of euthanasia as not only a ‘good’ act, but as a right. We will continue to emphasize that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide under the umbrella of MAiD are intrinsically wrong, that every human life has purpose from conception until natural death, and that good palliative care is a human need for everyone, and a desirable goal for which to strive for the common good.
Dr Bridget Campion is returning to CCBI to offer her ethical wisdom in these matters over the next while, and will focus on long-term care and indigenous health matters. There may be some overlap, but I will focus on care of the elderly, legal changes in euthanasia procedures and the provision of palliative care. We welcome Bridget back and look forward to her comments in the next editions of our Newsletter!
Care of the Elderly
Coincidentally and as if on cue, Pope Francis started a new cycle of catechesis two days ago, Wednesday, February 23. The theme is one that is close to his heart: the meaning and value of the elderly and old age. If you can, listen to the papal audience, where the Pope talks about a ‘new alliance’ between the young and the old in what he calls our ‘throw away’ culture. “Being old is beautiful, as is being young!”
Palliative and End-of-Life Care
I am delighted to direct your attention to the CCCB’s new program “Horizons of Hope,” a four session course on palliative and end of life issues. I had the honour of being on the theological/ethical writing team for the program and to be a member of the CCCB committee chaired by Archbishop Smith of Edmonton, a long-time member of CCBI’s Board of Directors. CCCB staff have put together an informative and useful program for parish use, and the Archdiocese of Toronto is currently planning to present the program in its parishes. We’ll keep you posted about the program’s availability in Toronto as well as elsewhere in Canada, once the program starts to be rolled out. In the meantime, the CCCB website has a lot of information to check out on its website.
Euthanasia
Having presented similar topics over the years, I am very much aware of the need for education in these areas, to help families deal with the realities of decisions at end-of-life, death and dying. These days, too, euthanasia is very much in evidence when those near end of life are in hospitals and facilities which see MAiD as not just legal, but ‘normal.’ One of CCBI’s long-time supporters and board member sent me an article by renowned ethicist Margaret Sommerville, where she notes that just as in society many talk of ‘casual sex,’ so now some talk of euthanasia in the same vein: ‘casual death.’ Her words strike home!
The struggle to prevent legalization of euthanasia continues in the UK and in Italy. In the latter, the Constitutional Court rejected the attempt to have a national referendum on legalization. The Catholic Church was extremely active in opposing such a move, while in the UK, groups such as ‘Care, Not Killing ‘ have been working round the clock, writing op-eds, capturing powerful statements by leading medical, legal and political people on video and so on, in an attempt to dissuade UK citizens from moving towards legalization. We have attached some videos where members of the House of Lords speak against the current Bill. One of the most moving is Baroness Jane Campbell, who suffers from spinal muscle atrophy and is an outspoken leader against euthanasia, drawing special attention to those who have severe handicaps.
Professor David Jones from the UK has been conducting research into consequences in countries where euthanasia is allowed, and confirms that legalization does not lead to decrease in numbers, as proponents sometimes claim, but, in fact, availability of these procedures increases it. This argument, unfortunately, does not appear to have had much impact ever since euthanasia was first allowed in the Netherlands, but must continue to be made.
Nearly Lent!
Moira McQueen, Bambi Rutledge and Bridget Campion for CCBI
Pope’s Intention for the month of February
FEBRUARY: FOR RELIGIOUS SISTERS AND CONSECRATED WOMENThis month, we will pray in a special way for religious sisters and consecrated women.What would the Church be without religious sisters and consecrated layw…youtu.be
From the CCCB Website (www.ccbi-utoronto.ca)
Horizons of Hope Program
Why Promote Palliative Care in our Parishes? When confronted with a life-limiting diagnosis, we can find ourselves in an unfamiliar and even frightening situation. These moments are usually marked by having to make numerous practical decisions surrounding care and support for loved ones and ourselves. More often than not, such decisions require moral discernment through the lens of our faith. We believe in the dignity and sacredness of human life at all stages, from conception to natural death. At the same time, our faith does not demand that life is to be sustained at all costs. As Catholics, our faith in Jesus Christ has much to teach us about living and dying well. Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care is designed to help each of us – caregivers, the sick and dying and family members – to find support and concrete assistance.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis – Catechesis on Old Age, no. 1 At the #GeneralAudience on Wednesday, #PopeFrancis began a new cycle of catechesis on the value of the #old age, in order to help us recognize the dignity of the #elderly and encourage dialogue between them and the young #BlessingOfTheTimes @PontAcadLife @Pontifex_en www.youtube.com
PAV welcomes Italian Constitutional Court decision on euthanasia – Vatican NewsBill on medically assisted suicide. In a statement released on Friday the PAV says it “warmly welcomes” the decision, noting that future legislation on the so-called physician-assisted suicide will have to take into account this Court ruling.www.vaticannews.va
UK
Peers speak out to oppose assisted suicide Bill – The Christian Institute
Assist disabled people to choose life, not death Next week, the House of Lords will debate Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill. It is, in fact, an Assisted Suicide Bill. www.politicshome.com
Legalising Assisted Suicide Leads To Increase In Overall Suicide Numbers | CARE