At the complex crossroads where faith, healthcare and legislation intersect, the Catholic Church's position on end-of-life care has always been rooted in the sanctity of human life. The Church recognizes the importance of high-quality palliative care, emphasizing the need to address not only physical pain but also the emotional, affective, and spiritual needs of individuals. However, recent legal changes have introduced a challenging landscape for institutions like St-Raphael Palliative Care Home.

 Archbishop Christian Lépine issued the following statement after the filing of the appeal in Superior Court, which seeks to suspend this new obligation.

Palliative Care at Crossroads: When Faith and Legislation Meet

Link to Appeal for judicial review and application for partial suspension of the application of a law
(in French only)

TO KNOW MORE 

Would you like to better understand why the Catholic Church encourages palliative care and not euthanasia ("medical aid in dying")? Would you like to be able to have conversations about this with friends and family, but feel unprepared? 

We are happy to share with you some resources to help you go deeper: 

1. Horizons of Hope is free, 8-hour program formation on palliative care for parishes prepared by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and experts in palliative care.  

2.  There is an excellent bilingual playlist of talks and witnesses on the themes of accompaniment at the end of life, palliative care, and euthanasia, including many reflections by Archbishop Christian Lepine on the YouTube channel of the Diocese of Montreal.  

3. On Saturday, March 16, 2024, the eve of the feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of a "happy death," Archbishop Christian Lepine will celebrate a public mass at 10:30 a.m. with the intention that we offer the hour of our death to our Lord through the intercession of St. Joseph. The mass will be at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and livestreamed online as well on the YouTube channel of the diocese.  All are welcome. More details to come on the website of the diocese of Montreal. Sponsored by the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and the Family.