From the Saskatchewan Bishops in response to Physician Assisted Suicide

“Now, at this critical time of implementation of Physician Assisted Suicide  in our health system, we have felt it appropriate to publish three new texts, each with a different purpose and audience.

1. First, we have written a Pastoral Letter on ‘Living Through Our Dying’, addressed to our brothers and sisters in faith and all people who have the gift of life. Our aim with this letter was to initiate a dialogue with our culture, recognizing that many struggle to see our opposition to PAS as an expression of compassion. We wanted to articulate what we stand for (more than what we oppose), to recognize the challenge of placing our trust in God, and to extend the invitation to hope that our faith offers.

2. Secondly, we have written a Pastoral Reflection on ‘Jesus: The Word Who is Life’, which situates the Paschal Mystery as the foundation of our understanding of the meaning of human dying. It is intended to be formative catechesis primarily for our own faithful, but it may well be of use to our Christian brothers and sisters as well.

3. Finally, we have written Pastoral Guidelines, addressed to priests, deacons and the Catholic faithful, intended to give support and guidance to those ministering to people facing the end of their lives. It was our hope to write guidelines which would equip those in ministry to follow Jesus faithfully, while extending his invitation of faith and life to those tempted to choose the circumstances of their own death.”