A law as soon as possible

Italy’s Bishops’ Conference (CEI) pleaded to preserve “passion for human life from the moment of conception to its natural termination” in a statement released after the death of Eluana Englaro, the woman in Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) for over 17 years, that was removed her feeding tubes last week in an Italian clinic (Udine). Eluana died for dehydration on Monday, February 9. Her story shed light upon the need for national legislation regulating living will. The issue will soon be debated by the Italian parliament.Hope lingers on. Expressing “great pain in this serious circumstance”, in a CEI communiqué Italian Bishops said, “the hope that stems from faith lingers on handing over Eluana’s body and soul to God’s mercy.” The bishops said they hoped her death “unites those that believe in the dignity of the human person and in the inviolable value of life, especially when it is defenceless”. While “the prayers and the pleas of so many men of good will” were not sufficient to preserve the “fragile existence” of Eluana, “who only needed loving care”. The bishops added, “We call all not to flag in this passion for human life from conception until natural death.” The Archbishop of Udine Msgr. Pietro Brollo, collected in prayer at the news of Eluana’s death, declared: “May the Lord gives us a heart that will always be capable of loving life, of forgiving and recovering the force to live as brothers”. Statements were ceaselessly pronounced by bishops and by leaders of Catholic aggregations, voicing their claims to save Eluana Englaro’s life and asking the Parliament to pass a law envisaging the respect for the sacrality of life, which won’t confuse freedom with self-determination. Now the law. “Eluana’s death should not be in vain, she will die no more”, pleaded Marco Tarquinio in an editorial published February 10 by Catholic daily “Avvenire”. “Eluana was killed”, he proclaimed. “Today, we are left with but a feeble hope that is already besieged – as soon as we peak into the enclosure of parliament assembly – by the usual circumspect quibbles, and by the usual loud polemics. But we want to reaffirm our frail hope: may this case be never repeated”. Hence the urgent request “that politicians draw up a law immediately. And that none, at least in this Country, be ever-again killed in this way: of hunger and thirst”. The State should take a stand. “This case is certainly not closed. Everyone should undergo a silent reflection”, theologian Marco Doldi told SIR on February 10. “Firstly, it must be said that Eluana did not die alone: she was killed by those who withdrew her nourishment and hydration; certainly hers was not a natural death. This is why the one who performed or promoted this end has a serious responsibility before God and society. The very circumstances of her death cannot be silenced”. But this, the theologian pointed out, “occurred in the name of a ruling”. Thus “it is necessary that the State takes a stand that will prevent the recurrence of such situations”. Doldi called for “a serious reflection, in order to identify determining factors. Individual freedom and independence of choice were invoked. But these claims cannot be related to life, reaching the point of achieving its termination. Life has priority over freedom, which cannot be exerted otherwise. How is it possible that a person dies for the will of somebody else? Secondly, the quality of life is not valued on the basis of the person’s fragility or on expression capacities”.The same position was upheld by 170 local periodicals represented by the Italian Federation of Catholic weeklies. A “peaceful reflection”. After Eluana’s death the Holy See called for a “serene reflection”, in the words of the Vatican Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi. “Now that Eluana is at peace – said Father Lombardi in a Note broadcast by the Vatican Radio – we hope that her case, after so many discussions, will be a motive for serene reflection and a responsible search for the best way to accompany the weakest, with love and careful attention, with the due respect for the right to life.” Also In the name of Eluana, we will continue to seek the most effective path to serve life”. “The moment has arrived – wrote February 10 the director of L’Osservatore Romano Giovanni Maria Vian – for a reflection that will reunite believers and non-believers (…) on the meaning of death and life”.