Dear editor,
I wish to correct the inaccurate statements made by Dr. Margaret Keresztesi regarding my letter about “The Views” not being in the hands of the community.
Fact: the Victoria Diocese owns the St. Joe’s property and the board of St. Joe’s report directly to the Catholic Bishop of Victoria. Its ongoing operation is funded by Island Health along with resident co-pay.
Dr. Keresztesi states that because MAiD (medical assistance in dying) is not allowed at The Views, “117 vulnerable residents are free to live out their lives without fear that they will be subject to subtle coercion to hasten their end.”
Fact: Island Health’s website specifically identifies 10 safeguards that are in place to protect the vulnerable from coercion.
Dr. Keresztesi insults the integrity of the Doctors who assist people qualifying for MAiD. The Catholic Bishop of Victoria refers to MAiD in his Blog as “a dark and evil time.”
His views are antiquated and unconstitutional and disagree with 88 per cent of the local population who support MAiD.
Dr. Keresztesi also says the needs of gay and transgender individuals at a Catholic facility of which The Views is one will be met with “respect and dignity.”
Fact: The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) intervened in opposition almost 30 times during the Supreme Court and Senate deliberations on same sex marriage. They still do not accept their legitimacy.
Fact: With respect to transgender rights that were enacted under Bill C-16, the CCCB has proclaimed that the principles behind the legislation cannot be endorsed by Catholics. Further, the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada Health Ethics Guide (Section 36) states hormonal therapy is not permitted in Catholic facilities. So much for respect and dignity.
It is time for Island Health to only fund secular long-term care facilities.
Laurel Rousseau
Courtenay