Spain, Italy, Ireland

Spain: the bishops’ declaration on euthanasia On Monday June 27 the Spanish Bishops issued a statement on the “draft bill on the rights of the person in the final stage of life”. In their document the prelates recall several occasions in which the Church proclaimed the Gospel of life that reaffirms “the sacredness of the life of every human person, even of those who are weak, suffering or experiencing the final stage of their journey on earth”. The bishops acknowledge the positive intention of the draft bill to protect human dignity without decriminalizing euthanasia. However, they underline that a “purely absolutistic understanding of human autonomy and the relevance given to said autonomy in the legislative text would end up weakening the declared intentions, thus annulling the fixed limit providing for the non-admission of euthanasia”. The very concept of human dignity is thus invalidated, “as well as the very concept of human dignity”, “as it infers that a human life could be lacking the dignity deserving legislative protection or the protection of third parties”. The bishops’ equally point out that the draft bill contains a reductive definition of the concept of euthanasia that leaves open the possibility of voluntary omissions that could cause the death of the patient or even accelerate it explicitly such as inadequate sedation, therapeutic abandonment of the patient or treatment omission. The Statement by the Spanish prelates also criticizes the chapters of the draft bill that refer to the freedom of religion. Accordingly, health workers are reduced to executors of the will of the patients, while their right to conscientious objection is not acknowledged. Italy: separate and divorced couples in the Catholic community “To open a theological reflection” whilst prompting “greater pastoral engagement” on the problem of divorce, “that has grown at an accelerated pace in recent years”. It is the objective of the week of formation promoted by the Office for the Pastoral Care of the family of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, held on June 22-26 in Salsomaggiore Terme (Italy) on the theme “Lights of hope for the wounded families. Separate or divorced and remarried persons in the Catholic community”. During the meeting it emerged that “a large number of separated couples have received religious counselling”. However, these are just the first steps. A new approach must be undertaken by the Christian community since the inability to love – present in all human hearts – ought to be identified in the divorced faithful. They manifest the difficulties and fatigue of living long-lasting relationships, experienced by everyone”. Before “the difficulty of welcoming these situations in truth and charity, and given poor priestly formation and the weakness of pastoral workers to this regard” “the strong formation of priests, pastoral counsellors, newly-wed couples, religious men and women is needed, so that they may act as the companions of the journey of those experiencing a marriage separation”. Finally, the proposal was launched of “creating a network of families in support of young spouses”, identifying “a new way to accompany engaged couples”, and most of all, “educating the young generations to true love”.Ireland: no to cuts on premium pay for Sunday workers “The proposal to cut Sunday premium payments is a prime example of a decision that would prioritise economic considerations at the expense of the well-being of citizens and the good of society”. Msgr. Raymond Field, Chair of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, thus commented on Dubilin’s government plans to cut premium pay for Sunday workers. This provision represents “the undermining of Sunday as a day of rest and, for many in our society as a day of prayer”. “For Christians, this is a day central to the practice of our faith” and therefore “all non-essential work should be avoided”. “The protection of Sunday as a day of rest – continues the bishop – is vital to the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of so many people in our society. Sunday is a time for the strengthening and protection of family life. In many households it is the only time when the whole family can be together”. Msgr. Field underlined, “It is equally vital, however, that any measures adopted to promote economic recovery are assessed for their impact on the most vulnerable in our society and on the common good”.