Belgium: Catholics and Muslims want to enlist Jews in fight against euthanasia

28 Mar 2006

March 28, 2006

Catholics and Muslims in Belgium are planning a joint initiative against further liberalization of active euthanasia. According to newspaper reports, they also want to enlist representatives of Belgian Jewry in their coalition against any further liberalization of Belgian laws permitting the assisted suicide of gravely ill people. The head of the Catholic Church in Belgium, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, is planning the drafting of a joint declaration of representatives of the three religions against euthanasia. The president of the Humanist Association of Wallonia and Brussels, Pierre Galand, strongly condemned the move, calling it a "religious meddling in public affairs". Some months ago, Belgian politicians also criticized Danneels for categorically rejecting any form of euthanasia for terminally ill people. Since 2002, active euthanasia is not punishable under certain circumstances. It is now being discussed to include patients suffering from Alzheimer in the group of people who could request active euthanasia.


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