On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message
In June 2026, euthanasia, commonly known as MAiD, became legal in Canada. This changed the medical and healthcare landscape for all Canadians. For Canadian Catholics specifically, this raises moral questions that lead to difficult conversations or to their avoidance.
To bring greater awareness, understanding, and faithful action regarding MAiD, the Archdiocese created a toolkit titled "On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message". The toolkit equips people to:
- Understand the current context of MAiD in Canada and Nova Scotia
- Talk about MAiD with family, friends, and parishioners
- Understand our Catholic teaching and stance against MAiD
- Access further resources
The toolkit is aimed at clergy, hospital chaplains, and those in pastoral care; however, it is available to all. The toolkit is meant to be used as a DIGITAL RESOURCE on your computer, tablet, or phone, and can be accessed by clicking the toolkit image to the left.
Many of the links within the toolkit connect to the resource directly, apart from the links below:
Dying with Christ, Living with Hope
Dying with Christ – Living with Hope is a faith-filled program that speaks to one of the most important topics of our human experiences. Led by theologians and Christian healthcare professionals, this series offers meaningful insight into suffering, grief, dying, the duty to care, and how we can enter more deeply into the Christian hope of dying with Christ.
Dying with Christ – Living with Hope is a faith-filled program that speaks to one of the most important topics of our human experiences. Led by theologians and Christian healthcare professionals, this series offers meaningful insight into suffering, grief, dying, the duty to care, and how we can enter more deeply into the Christian hope of dying with Christ.
As Christians, we are called to care for the vulnerable and uphold the dignity of every life. If no action is taken before March 17, 2027, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) will be expanded to include individuals whose only medical condition is mental health-related. Suicidal thinking can be a symptom for those living with mental illness. When patients share their desire to die, it’s time to use suicide prevention strategies.
On February 4 the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) issued a statement strongly supporting Private Member’s Bill C-218, which seeks to prevent persons whose sole medical condition is mental illness from accessing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (“MAiD”).
