EDMONTON—The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories have issued guidelines that say priests should refuse funerals for some people who have assisted suicide. The document calls physician-assisted death a “grave sin” that contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church. It says priests should weigh the circumstances of each funeral request, but those for high-profile assisted deaths should be refused. It also says families who want to celebrate the assisted death decisions of their loved ones should be denied church funerals. Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith says the guidelines don’t rule out funerals for everyone and priests can come up with other options, such as speaking at a graveside service or at a funeral home.

Source: thestar September 29, 2016 19:30 UTC