Canadian church exposed for hosting 'Hot Potato' night to promote government-assisted dying

A church in Canada has come under fire for hosting a hot potato night, in which congregants attending can enjoy a baked potato, that focuses on educating attendees about the country’s government-assisted suicide, know as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).

St. Timothy's Anglican Church in Nova Scotia is scheduled to host the event on October 5. An advertisement for the event states that MAID “is a legally available, end of life option for Canadians who are fully assessed, and found yo meet strict eligibility criteria. Making the choice to seek MAID is a deeply personal decision, and such a decision requires accurate, and timely information.”

The church said that staff from the province’s MAID program would deliver a presentation covering the criteria, process, “and the things people should consider” regarding MAID. The advertisement added, “the evening includes a baked potato with all the toppings and a beverage.” The event was first reported by independent journalist Kelsi Sheren. 

The event quickly received backlash from users on social media. 

“Let me be very clear, Nova Scotia and the Veterans Association RCMP did this to their veterans as well about a year and a half ago,” Sheren said. She later added, “this church should be ashamed of itself.” 

One user wrote, “People should be able to walk into a church at their lowest point and find a reason to keep living. Helping the government make assisted death more acceptable is a betrayal of that responsibility.”

Another wrote, “No words can adequately describe how outrageous it is for a CHURCH to participate in something that has become so sinister. Canada is literally Marketing suicide to people who are simply depressed. God forbid. Literally.”

In the wake of the backlash, the church issued a statement reading, “Including a Hot Potato bar has never been about convincing people to come. We just considered it to be a clever alternative to usual coffee and sweets that were served in a church hall,” per the Daily Mail. 

“We have been hosting Hot Potato events for a couple of years now. The intent is never to convince anyone of anything but to give members of our community an opportunity to ask questions and learn about a hot potato topic in that field. We offer our space so these difficult conversations can be had in our community. We are not endorsing or affirming any perspectives or ideologies.”