National

(CCCB) With the support and collaboration of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catholic Organization for Life and Family launched a national Campaign for Palliative and Home Care, and against Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.

The campaign's theme is "Life-Giving Love". A special website is dedicated to the campaign.

The Catholic Bishops of Canada have repeatedly called for positive steps to secure truly compassionate palliative care options for all Canadians. In his video presentation for the new campaign, the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the CCCB, notes that with growing general demands for legislation to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, "it becomes all the more urgent to respond to the call by the Second Vatican Council for a formed, informed, committed laity in the midst of our world."

The campaign was announced during the recent 2014 Plenary Assembly of the CCCB. The outgoing Chairman of COLF, the Most Reverend Noël Simard, Bishop of Valleyfield, together with the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and new Chairman of COLF, announced that after consulting the CCCB Executive, COLF decided to proceed with this initiative.

For the national campaign, COLF is offering various resources which include the video message from CCCB President Archbishop Durocher, a leaflet, a prayer card for life, and suggested prayers of the faithful. All resources are available at no cost on the new website. The Conference's support of the campaign is part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Life and Family which the Bishops of Canada approved in 2011. The CCCB webpage for the national pastoral initiative already includes a special section with resources and links to other websites on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Link to the special Website
Link to video message by the CCCB President
Link to COLF's Media release