Belgium argues on about euthanasia

Cathcon translation of
Belgien streitet weiter über Sterbehilfe

A spokesman for the Belgian church defended the Church’s rejection of active euthanasia. Cardinal Godfried Danneels did need to be ashamed of his remarks, said his spokesman Hans Geybels in the newspaper "De Standaard" (Monday). The Brussels Cardinal had notably stated his opposition after the death through euthanasia of writer Hugo Claus who was suffering, placing euthanasia again at the centre of press attention.

At the funeral service for Claus, the writer Erwin Mortier Danneels had demanded that Danneels needed to be ashamed; church dignitaries wanted to give lessons after the death. It was not a heroic deed to play out his alleged moral superiority in such a situation.

Already Danneels had earlier made clear that he had not wished to criticise in his Easter sermon the writer who had died not two weeks before. Among other things, he had to explain that there are other ways to alleviate suffering. Through euthanasia, the meaning of death would be taken away.

Church rejects further legislative changes

Danneels' spokesman said that the Catholic Church was for an extension of hospice medical services and that palliative care should be strengthened. By contrast, the church was against an extension of the Belgian law on euthanasia to dementia patients and minors, as once again the Flemish Liberals had proposed. The Christian Democrat coalition partners already signalled rejection. Liberal politicians therefore announced at the weekend, for an effort to search for majorities outside of the government coalition.

Cathcon comment- Cardinal Danneels does the right thing.