{"id":13828,"date":"2016-04-17T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-17T12:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-99057\/"},"modified":"2016-04-17T12:02:00","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T12:02:00","slug":"canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said.<\/p>\n

On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,\u201d the cardinal told CNA April 14.<\/p>\n

While people see assisted suicide as a \u201csimple solution,\u201d he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, \u201cthey begin to realize that this is not the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,\u201d Cardinal Collins said.<\/p>\n

The gathering would say to Parliament: \u201cthus far and no further. This is just not right. It\u2019s not right.\u201d He characterized the effort as \u201cthe ecumenism of practical love.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the root of the problem,\u201d Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as \u201csadly unanimous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison.<\/p>\n

The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of \u201cnoxious substances\u201d to people.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, it\u2019s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?\u201d<\/p>\n

He criticized using the phrase \u201cmedical assistance in dying\u201d to describe \u201ctaking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not called dying. The word for that is \u2018killing\u2019. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He warned against euphemisms that are \u201ccomfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don\u2019t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained.<\/p>\n

He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are \u201ccommitted to healing, and not to killing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say that there\u2019s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there\u2019s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,\u201d he said.
\n\u00a0
\nBackers of the bill say that Canada\u2019s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections.<\/p>\n

The cardinal questioned this.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all of Canada, they\u2019re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they\u2019re not providing the same nationwide protections for people\u2019s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that in this \u201ccold world of euthanasia,\u201d there must be \u201cplaces where you know where you will be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

He worried of the pressures on the elderly to \u201churry up\u201d and die.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,\u201d he said in an April 14 statement.<\/p>\n

He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on \u201cnow, and at the hour of our death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said.<\/p>\n

On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code.<\/p>\n

“We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14.<\/p>\n

While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.”<\/p>\n

Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital.<\/p>\n

“The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said.<\/p>\n

The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.”<\/p>\n

The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response.<\/p>\n

“That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.”<\/p>\n

“The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added.<\/p>\n

Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison.<\/p>\n

The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people.<\/p>\n

“Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?”<\/p>\n

He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.”<\/p>\n

“That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.”<\/p>\n

He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.”<\/p>\n

“When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.”<\/p>\n

The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained.<\/p>\n

He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime.<\/p>\n

“That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said.<\/p>\n

He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.”<\/p>\n

“They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.”<\/p>\n

He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia.<\/p>\n

“What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.
\n 
\nBackers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections.<\/p>\n

The cardinal questioned this.<\/p>\n

“For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for ‘havens of refuge’.”<\/p>\n

He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.”<\/p>\n

He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die.<\/p>\n

“At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement.<\/p>\n

He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.”<\/p>\n

“In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-americas"],"yoast_head":"\nCanadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Catholic News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/size340\/Medication_Credit_ashley_rose_via_Flickr_CC_BY_NC_ND_20_CNA_2_2_15_pills.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"CNA Daily News\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CNA Daily News\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/\",\"name\":\"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1\"},\"description\":\"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/\",\"name\":\"Catholic News\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1\",\"name\":\"CNA Daily News\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"CNA Daily News\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/author\/cna-daily-news\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts","description":"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts","og_description":"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/","og_site_name":"Catholic News","article_published_time":"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/size340\/Medication_Credit_ashley_rose_via_Flickr_CC_BY_NC_ND_20_CNA_2_2_15_pills.jpg"}],"author":"CNA Daily News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"CNA Daily News","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/","name":"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website"},"datePublished":"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00","dateModified":"2016-04-17T12:02:00+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1"},"description":"Toronto, Canada, Apr 17, 2016 \/ 06:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- The coming legalization of assisted suicide in Canada will threaten the vulnerable, hide killing with euphemisms, and threaten the consciences of those who oppose it, Cardinal Timothy Collins of Toronto has said. On Thursday the Canadian government introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia under the federal criminal code. “We’re all deeply concerned that this is a sad day for Canada,” the cardinal told CNA April 14. While people see assisted suicide as a “simple solution,” he said, once people begin to consider what the practices really means to society, and its threats to the vulnerable, “they begin to realize that this is not the way to go.” Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the Salvation Army, all opponents of legalization, will hold an April 19 press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. “The very people who are most involved in helping people by the bedside while they are dying or while they are suffering are the ones most opposed to killing those entrusted in their care,” Cardinal Collins said. The gathering would say to Parliament: “thus far and no further. This is just not right. It’s not right.” He characterized the effort as “the ecumenism of practical love.” The new legislation was required by a February 2015 Canadian Supreme Court decision. The ruling said that doctors may help patients who have severe and incurable suffering to kill themselves, and ordered Parliament to create a legislative response. “That is the root of the problem,” Cardinal Collins said. He described that court decision as “sadly unanimous.” “The fundamental move towards implementing euthanasia or assisted suicide is itself troubling,” he added. Previously, under Canadian law those who counseled, aided, or abetted a suicide faced up to 14 years in prison. The cardinal said the law previously barred the provision of “noxious substances” to people. “Now, it’s possible that giving a substance like that is now going to be considered a form of health care. What have we come to?” He criticized using the phrase “medical assistance in dying” to describe “taking a substance and injecting it into a person, and that makes them die.” “That’s not called dying. The word for that is ‘killing’. To not know the difference between dying and killing is astonishing.” He warned against euphemisms that are “comfortable and pleasant and sweet, but which do not describe what is happening.” “When we are ashamed, troubled, by what we are doing, I think we always leave the light of clear language. We don’t want the light to shine upon what we are doing.” The cardinal said Catholics should strongly encourage palliative care for those in severe pain and for the terminally ill. This, not suicide, is true medical assistance, he maintained. He said the government also has an obligation to support palliative care if it is going to set up a legal euthanasia regime. “That’s the positive way to deal with this very real issue,” he said. He also stressed the need for conscience safeguards to protect individuals who are “committed to healing, and not to killing.” “They say that there’s nothing in the law that somebody must do this. Well, there’s nothing in the law. Yet. But this has to be taken care of.” He said individuals and institutions will certainly face pressure to take part in assisted suicide or euthanasia. “What protections are being offered? There are no protections offered in this bill at all,” he said.   Backers of the bill say that Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories will provide these protections. The cardinal questioned this. “For all of Canada, they’re making it acceptable to provide a noxious substance to somebody. But they’re not providing the same nationwide protections for people’s consciences and for 'havens of refuge'.” He said that in this “cold world of euthanasia,” there must be “places where you know where you will be safe.” He worried of the pressures on the elderly to “hurry up” and die. “At a time when our priority should be fostering a culture of love, and enhancing resources for those suffering and facing death, assisted suicide leads us down a dark path,” he said in an April 14 statement. He noted that the Hail Mary prayer focuses on “now, and at the hour of our death.” “In these days ahead, may that reflection guide us as in a spirit of love, mercy and compassion, we journey with all those who are suffering.”","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/04\/canadians-will-regret-legal-assisted-suicide-cardinal-collins-predicts-2\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Canadians will regret legal assisted suicide, Cardinal Collins predicts"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/","name":"Catholic News","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/35d4bd7addc580050842c844a11575f1","name":"CNA Daily News","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8f1180c7dca7995d4a997aac72a3a88a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"CNA Daily News"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/author\/cna-daily-news\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1031"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13828\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}