Euthanasia, minors, a tragic ‘yes’

November 27 was a sad day for Belgium which took a terribly difficult decision. In fact, policymakers were called to vote on an unconceivable issue: the suffering and death of children. The joint Committees of Social Affairs and Justice at the Senate adopted with three ayes and 4 noes the legislative proposal that aims at extending legalization of euthanasia to minors in specific health conditions, provided the opinion of a psychologist claiming the capacity of discernment of the interested party. Accordingly, only minors experiencing unbearable and incurable physical suffering, in terminal phase, will be granted, under the supervision of a team of doctors and with the parents’ consent, access to euthanasia which they themselves requested, while over-16 year-old youths have the possibility of deciding autonomously, i.e. without the parents’ authorization. Socialists and Liberals, French-speaking and Flemish MPs, the Greens and the N-va voted in favour of the legislative proposal. The senators of Cdh, Cd&v and Vlaams Belang voted against. The document approved by the Committee is tabled for debate by the plenary at the Senate. Religious leaders: “Sadness and delusion”. In addition to Belgium, in Europe euthanasia is officially authorized in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, while in other countries such as the United States of America, the so-called “advance directives” have legal value according to the State. If the European Parliament approves the initiative Belgium would become the first country in the world where teenagers have the right to voluntarily renounce their lives. In their joint opposition against the decision, the religious leaders in Belgium released a statement which conveyed “sadness and disappointment”. The text is signed by the Chief Rabbi of Brussels, the Imam, the Archbishop Leonard and representatives of Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox Churches. It is a sign that the respect for life in all its stages and conditions belongs to humanity as a precious heritage. But it is also a sign that religions are near those who are suffering. “We believe – they wrote – that we don’t have the right to let a child suffer, also because suffering must be relieved. And medicine has the means to do so. Let us not trivialize the act of giving death. We were created for life. To love until the end requires an immense amount of courage. To put an end to life is an act that not only kills, it destroys a little at a time the existing bonds in our society, in our families, overcome by surging individualism”. A law that offends human rights. The news of the vote in Belgium spread quickly across Europe and shocked a prominent representative of bioethical questions such as cardinal Elio Sgreccia, former president of the Pontifical Academy for life, which on the website of the foundation “Ut Vitam habeant”, which he chairs, promptly reacted to the decision of the Belgian Senate. “This law – he said – not only seriously offends the Christian conscience of many Belgian citizens (Flemish and Walloons), it is a serious breach of human rights, of the right to life, of the right to be treated, especially sick children, of the right, for children, of being defended in moments of weakness, the right for mentally ill people to seek assistance. These rights are present in all Ethical codes that have become bounding pursuant to the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1948”. The Cardinal thus made a proposal of “a humanitarian and spiritual intervention through prayer” and recalled what Pope Francis said about the weak and suffering people, describing them as “a patrimony for each Christian community”, a “precious gift for the Church”. The appeal of the Pope. On the very day of the vote by the Belgian Senate during the general audience the Pope spoke of death. It “can be viewed” – he said – “in a fearful or even scandalous manner, particularly if it hits “innocent ones, like children”. “Why do children suffer? why do children die?”. His Holiness added: “Solidarity in sharing pain and instilling hope is the premise and condition to receive in inheritance the Kingdom prepared for us”, he said. “One who practices mercy does not fear death. Shall we say it together so as not to forget? One who practices mercy does not fear death!”