Bruce J. Clemenger is president of
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
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basic protection in Canada. Why?
There are conscience-respecting
ways of connecting patients with
willing doctors and nurses – models
have been developed and proposed.
Far better for Parliament to ensure protection by making it a
Criminal Code offense to coerce
someone to act contrary to their
beliefs. Or protection could be
written into the assisted dying
legislation by adding a guarantee
that participation be voluntary.
Parliamentarians know at least
one professional college of physicians and surgeons (Ontario – the
largest) is already compelling the
unwilling by requiring an effective
referral. Yet so far attempts to include strong protection have failed.
It can be argued that requiring all
to participate is simple and convenient. Refusing to accommodate real
differences is always easier.
But we live in a religiously plural
society where the freedoms of some
will conflict with the convictions of
others. Otherwise we are no longer
plural in any meaningful sense and
the meaning of freedom is empty.
Compelling some to participate
in killing another is incompatible
with life in a free society.
Perhaps a deeper motive for compelling the unwilling is to guarantee
and solidify this radical change –
force those who disagree to capitulate or leave. Many are uncomfortable with the act, and eliminating
those most opposed from the profession and making all others complicit
will erode resistance. Can it really be
wrong if we all participate?
It seems inevitable that “do no
harm” will no longer be the unifying
and clarion call of medicine. But will
a plurality of views and approaches
be tolerated within the health care
system? Or will what has now be-
come legal be the new morality from
which dissent will not be tolerated?
For centuries most health care
systems have been animated by core
beliefs in keeping with – and often
arising directly from – Christian
faith. We are on the verge of forcing
out many who are deeply committed
to the sanctity of human life. Without adequate protection federally
the battle for religious freedom and
conscience will be fought provincially and territorially. We need to
take a stand for the freedom of
medical professionals to heal and
not kill, and for the ability of health
care institutions, including faith-based ones, to honour that same
mission and purpose. /FT
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noted the importance
of working with youth
and young adults at
major life transition
points. Partners
include Power to Change,
Truth Matters, Muskoka Woods
Leadership Studio, Youth for
Christ and Inter-Varsity Christian
Fellowship.
New assisted
suicide law
At press time the status of the
controversial new legislation was
undetermined. Get the latest
on this issue at www.theEFC.ca/
EuthanasiaUrgentAction.
Support our youth
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written by young adults to
encourage each other to put faith
into action? It’s now
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Today. Feel free to
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Pray for T WU
The EFC was in court in Nova
Scotia in April, and in both
Ontario and B.C. in June, to
intervene in support of Trinity
Western University and its fight
to ensure accreditation for its
law school. Three provincial law
societies have refused to accredit
TWU. Judgments were not
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Summer calendar
RZIM Summer School, Langley,
July 10–15
Engaging Islam Intensives,
Colorado, July 11–23
The Trinity: One God, Three
Persons, Charlottetown,
Aug. 2–4
No Greater Love Music Festival,
near Calgary, Aug. 13–14
Christian Legal Fello wship
Conference, New Westminster,
Sept. 22–25
Canadian Evangelism Congress,
Niagara Falls, Sept. 26–27
Being Christian 2016: Faith in a
Complex World, Toronto,
Sept. 30–Oct. 2
Vocatio: Vocation and Culture
Shaping, Calgary, Sept. 30–Oct. 1
Visit www.theEFC.ca/calendar
to find out what else is new or
publicize your own event.
Will what
has now
become
legal be
the new
morality
from which
dissent
will not be
tolerated?
