A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME IN AMERICAN CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE?

Two Christian hospitals in Winnipeg Province have decided not to euthanize their patients nor help them kill themselves.

Pro-death advocates were quick to condemn both healthcare facilities.

Concordia Hospital, which is Mennonite, and St. Boniface, which is Catholic, have both indicated they have the agreement of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to not provide “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAID) as euthanasia and assisted suicide are euphemistically termed in Canada.

The Mennonite hospital even took out a large advertisement in the local press stating that its administration consulted widely with health and faith organizations before opting out of any assisted suicide provisions. “Concordia believes that providing health care is a ministry assigned to us by Christ. … As such our opposition to the practice of MAID based on our ethical and moral beliefs needs [sic] has been recognized and honoured by WRHA,” the ad read in part.

A Saint Boniface hospital spokesperson issued a statement that the Catholic healthcare facility wouldn’t be providing assisted suicide:  “We will not be participating in that. When asked why, the hospital representative replied, “Because we are a Catholic facility.”

Both hospitals, however, have said they will help their patients and families connect with the “Provincial Medical Assistance in Dying Clinical Team,” if requested to do so by patients or their family members.

Arthur Schafer, Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba stated it was “disturbing” that two publicly-funded hospitals refused to provide the full range of legal services. 

Health authorities across Canada clearly believe that recent Supreme Court decisions support their position that faith-based hospitals can opt out of assisted suicide. 

In British Columbia, several Catholic hospitals have been severely criticized for refusing to participate in euthanasia and assisted suicide but have escaped sanctions from public authorities. Michael Shea, President of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada, representing 124 Catholic healthcare institutions across Canada, says he is unaware of any legislation requiring members to participate in assisted suicide.


One wonders if this may be just a preview of things to come in American Catholic healthcare facilities as the merchants of death are so clearly hellbent in pushing their anti-life agendas further and farther than ever.