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
On Thursday, February 25, the special joint parliamentary committee on physician- assisted dying released their report, “Medical Assistance in Dying: A Patient- Centred Approach”. The 21 recommendations published in the report have stirred much debate in this already divided subject. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) added their unified voice to this current conversation and released an official statement on Friday, February 26. Our own Archbishop Anthony Mancini has expressed his sadness and disappointment regarding the report in a pastoral note to the faithful of Halifax-Yarmouth. Read his full message on the Archdiocesan website under Letters to Faithful. Click here.
The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has sent a submission this past October 19 to the Expert Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada. The submission includes references to Church teaching with pertinent citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, together with excerpts from the CCCB Plenary Assembly's statement on assisted suicide released on September 18, 2015, supplemented with further comments on the urgency and importance of palliative care.
Dear Minister,
Further to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada this past February 6, the Catholic Bishops of Canada welcomed the announcement you made in media interviews last month when you said that the federal government will soon reveal details of its public consultations regarding new legislation on assisted suicide. More recently, my brother Bishops and I also noted media reports a few weeks ago which quoted you as saying that the consultation, "while not formally announced, has begun." read more
On Friday, Feb 6 the Supreme Court of Canada struck down sections of the Criminal Code dealing with assisting in suicide. People everywhere have responded in one way or another to this change. The weekend of the ruling Archbishop Mancini shared his own thoughts and response in the his homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
“Sing praises to the Lord who heals the broken-hearted” – Psalm 147
Dear Friends,
Today the gospel shows us Jesus, the healer! He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and he healed all those who were brought to him that evening. Why did he do that?
