Catholic community urged to raise its voice in support of separating the two measures in Bill C-41
Winnipeg. – Archbishop Murray Chatlain of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg is asking Catholics to send a letter to their Member of Parliament. This is part of a national campaign led by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The more Catholics who send letters, the clearer it will be to all political parties that Catholics are engaged citizens with a significant voice in our beautiful country of Canada.
Parliament begins the second reading of Bill C-41 this Monday, November 16, 2026. Bill C-41 is made up of two parts. The first part maintains the exclusion of mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition for medical assistance in dying (MAID). The Catholic Church supports this part, which protects vulnerable citizens, and encourages it to proceed. The Church does not support euthanasia or MAID.
The second part is problematic. It would permit advance requests for euthanasia, meaning a person could ask in advance to be euthanized if they later lose the capacity to decide for themselves. This raises concern because it gives another person the legal right and responsibility to make that decision on the individual’s behalf.
The Archbishop urges Catholics to send a letter to their Member of Parliament through this link provided by the CCCB and to act together as one Church, in respect of the dignity of life. The letter asks the government to:
- separate the two measures in Bill C-41;
- maintain the exclusion where mental illness is the sole underlying medical condition;
- oppose the advance request provisions; and
- advocate for care that upholds the dignity of people living with illness or disability.
“Someone may ask for this out of fear for what the future holds,” said Archbishop Chatlain. “Many people who are struggling with progressing illness or other challenges often find it not as bad as they feared. If the decision has already been made, it leaves people vulnerable to being euthanized when they are not able to revisit the question.”, he added
He added, “It is very delicate who decides how to follow through on the advance care directive. There needs to be more safeguards and protections clearly in place.”
The Archbishop concluded with a prayer that God bless all those involved in health care and grant courage and wisdom to the nation’s leaders.
Link to send a letter to their Member of Parliament: https://actionbutton.nationbuilder.com/share/SPK-Q0FBQEE=
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