Canada’s Catholic bishops are highlighting concern for the right to life, care for the vulnerable, and protection of religious freedom in upcoming elections due to take place on April 28.

In a pastoral letter, they ask Catholic voters to “discern which policies best serve the common good”.

The bishops place particular emphasis on the right to life, stating: “This right is being undermined by the lack of legal protection for the unborn, the ongoing expansion of eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID), and the insufficient access to quality palliative care for those who are suffering at the end of life.”

The bishops also warn of “growing intolerance toward religious communities in Canada,” including “threats to remove charitable tax status simply for upholding values rooted in faith that diverge from prevailing secular ideologies.”