The Cardinal of Toronto, Frank Leo, has urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and several Members of Parliament to support a legislative initiative aimed at halting the expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illnesses, warning of the serious moral deterioration that this measure would entail.
A law to prevent the expansion of euthanasia
According to The Catholic World Report, in letters sent on April 20, the archbishop called for support of Bill C-218, known as the Right to Recover Act, which seeks to prevent euthanasia—legal in Canada since 2016 under the “medical assistance in dying” (MAID) system—from being applied to people whose only condition is a mental illness.
Current legislation provides for this expansion to take effect on March 17, 2027, although parliamentary debate on the bill has been postponed without a defined date.
Nearly 100,000 deaths since legalization
Cardinal Leo recalled that since the legalization of euthanasia in Canada, nearly 100,000 people have died through this procedure, in a process that has progressively expanded the initial assumptions, originally limited to patients with serious and terminal illnesses.
“A society is justly judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members,” the prelate stated, warning that more and more Canadians view this trend with concern.
“Contrary to human dignity”
In his message, the cardinal was clear: “Our Catholic faith opposes taking any life,” and he expressed his “disappointment and anguish” at the rapid expansion of euthanasia in the country.
He also stated that both assisted suicide and euthanasia are “contrary to the dignity of the human person,” emphasizing the moral nature of a debate that transcends the purely political.
Appeal to parliamentarians: “Choose life”
Leo expressly asked the Government to allow a free vote for MPs, as it is a matter of conscience that affects deep ethical convictions.
“I ask you to choose life and not death; to help build a civilization that cares for those who suffer and does not eliminate them,” he wrote, in a direct appeal to political leaders.
National mobilization against euthanasia
The Archbishop of Toronto is also leading the national campaign Help Not Harm, which encourages citizens to contact their political representatives to support the bill. By mid-April, around 5,000 letters had been sent through this initiative.
The cardinal warned that the normalization of euthanasia could “undermine a culture of compassion,” reduce investment in palliative care, and weaken social commitment to the sick, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Finally, Leo urged the Canadian Government to halt any further expansion of euthanasia and to bet on policies that strengthen palliative care, mental health support, and care for the most vulnerable.