By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register

[Canadian Catholic News] – Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen says the Saskatchewan bishops’ recent pastoral letter on medically-assisted suicide/euthanasia issued is an acknowledgement and response to the realities that have emerged after their initial document about the legalization of medically-provided death was released in 2017.

“Eight years later things have not gotten better,” said Hagemoen. “Furthermore, we have all experienced as bishops from our faithful, various health-care givers and others some real frustrations that are actually increasing with the situation vis-à-vis dying and dealing with a strapped health-care system. And we have pastors and (parishioners) with roles in supporting elders and others who are dealing with incapacity or issues that compromise them at the end of their life.”

“Dying with Hope: Living and Walking Together” was signed by Hagemoen, Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen, Prince Albert Bishop Stephen Hero, Bishop Michael Smolinski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon and the former Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas — now Archbishop of Winnipeg — Murray Chatlain.

The bishops recognize in the letter that “strained caregivers sometimes feel that death would be preferable to providing inadequate care. As a result, they may offer assisted suicide as a solution to the heart-wrenching suffering that they find themselves unable to relieve.”

So-called “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)” has expanded since it was legalized, becoming more accessible (even when death is not immediately foreseeable), and potentially provided just 24 hours after assessment. Stories about medically-provided death that are propagated in mainstream culture exacerbate the problem, suggested Hagemoen.

“I suppose what is disappointing for me and many of us is we hear certain romanticized accounts of assisted suicide,” said Hagemoen. “They present something that (leads) many to sympathize with those who think this is a way to go.

“Furthermore, the opposite of that is what seems to be the harsh and merciless kind of instance of a Christian message, a Catholic message, that rejects assisted death,” continued the 63-year-old prelate. “With that comes confusion and that is outlined in our letter. Many of the faithful know — but some don’t — that the Catholic Church does not insist on living at all costs. That is very different than causing wilful death,” said Hagemoen, alluding to Catholics who choose to reject “extraordinary means” to preserve their life in favour of “ordinary means of care and support” to allow the dying process to take its natural course.

While euthanasia has become an entrenched aspect of the Canadian health landscape — nearly five per cent of all Canadian fatalities in 2023 came from medical-killing procedures — the bishops urge Catholics to ask important, challenging questions.

“We do well to ask: Where is our constitutional right to suitable housing, aid for disabled persons and palliative care? Why is a ‘constitutional right’ to death at the forefront of discussion about care for the elderly? What meaning does ‘autonomy’ have when death is offered while support in living is withheld?”

The Saskatchewan bishops offer proposed responses to the couture challenges.

First, they endorse increased participation in the Horizons of Hope: A Toolkit for Catholic Parishes on Palliative Care program developed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Joint Ad hoc Committee on Palliative Care. This educational resource presents the Catholic position on dying, death, suffering, accompaniment, bereavement and palliative care.

The second proposal is for Catholics to embrace filling out a faith-based advance-care directive so they can inform their family, friends and health-care professionals about their belief-driven treatment desires before they potentially lose the capacity to make those choices.

The third call to action is to commit to accompanying vulnerable individuals as they navigate the health-care system. The Saskatchewan bishops suggest that “supporting individuals as they consider complex health-care decisions or receive care is a gift to both the individual who is seeking care and the person who faithfully stands with them.”

“Dying with Hope: Living and Walking Together” – PDF

Related: Saskatchewan Catholic bishops release pastoral letter in response to medically-provided euthanasia

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Canadian Catholic News (CCN) is a national news service, with members including Catholic newspapers, organizations, and individuals: CanadianCatholicNews.ca

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca.