An appeal to safeguard human dignity and the right to life, “even in the most difficult phases of existence”, was made by the German Episcopal Conference to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, which is preparing to pronounce on euthanasia soon. In their official communiqué issued on 20 January, the bishops insist that “in whatever phase of life, the person has an inalienable dignity and an unconditional right to life”. In underlining the fact that the report due to be debated in the Council contains requests that conflict with the position expressed by the same institution in 1999, the Episcopal Conference considers the request for the depenalization of euthanasia “a step backwards” and draws attention to the “news of alarming experiences” coming from Holland and Belgium, countries that have legalized the practice. “Those who speak of ‘voluntary euthanasia’ are unfamiliar with the situation of the terminally ill or persons close to death, who have difficulty or are unable to freely decide to be killed”. The German bishops warn of the dangers of introducing a “legal regulation” of euthanasia, which would end up by becoming “an option that could be exercised even from outside” and imposed on the patient. “The wish to die often springs from despair. But in many cases it disappears when the patient is followed with love and assisted at the medical and psychological level in an optimal fashion. That’s why the Churches have always urged that the level of palliative treatment for the terminally ill be improved”.
