Quebec bishops say they won't refuse funerals in assisted-death cases

Bishops in Quebecwill not be following in the steps of their counterparts in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, where guidelines were introduced Thursday that saypriests should refuse funerals in assisted-death cases.

In its mostrecent directives, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories categorized physician-assisted dying as a "grave sin" that contradicts the values of the church.

• Alberta, N.W.T. bishops issue guidelines that refuse funerals in assisted-death cases
• More than 100 Canadians have opted for assisted death since law passed

The announcement came during theannual plenary assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishopsin Cornwall, Ont.,andbishops across Canada are divided over the issue.

MostQuebec bishops said they would not refuse to perform religious funeral services despite the position of the Catholic Church that prohibits medicallyassisted dying.

"We favour accompanying people nearing the end of life and we prefer palliative care, but we will support people in all situations," Marc Pelchat, the vicar general of archdiocese of Quebec, told Radio-Canada.

Quebec Archbishop Grald Cyprien Lacroix also confirmed through a statement that he will not issue similar guidelinesto push priests to turn down funerals for those who choose to die with medical help.

The same sentiment was echoed by Montreal Archbishop Christian Lpine, who said he has a different way of tackling assisted-death cases than the criteria laid out bythe Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Lpine said he wanted to"support people" when it came to their personal choices "while still recognizing the value of life."

But others, likeNolSimard, the archbishop of Valleyfield, weremore nuanced, saying priests must try to understand the motivation behind thepatient'schoice.

"Respecting someone's choice must also be in accordance withthe Church's teachings," he said.