Brisbane Archdiocesan parishes and others across Queensland recently observed “Dying Peacefully – No Euthanasia” Sunday, outlining the church’s ‘Care First’ approach of support for palliative care services as opposed to the introduction of so called “voluntary assisted dying” (VAD).
The initiative was recommended by Archbishop Coleridge as it became clear the issues of VAD and palliative care, which itself is much more than the sedation of pain, were not well understood in the community.
Catholic support for better palliative care is grounded in the common good of society.
Better end-of-life care begins with better conversations about death and dying, and how we can die well in ways that do not undermine the foundational values of our society.