Holy Father Pope Francis orders a Belgian Brothers of Charity-run organization to stop offering euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or an irreversible coma, to patients in the psychiatric centers giving the group a deadline until the end of August. The Brothers of Charity groups expected to face strict legal actions under canon law and could have its Catholic status revoked if it does not change its policy of providing euthanasia to psychiatric patients. Brothers have refused to sign a joint letter to their superior, Br. Rene Stockman, declaring their adherence to Church teaching.
As reported by Catholic News Agency, Br. Rene Stockman remarked that “The group responded that respect for life is fundamental, but autonomy for the person is on the same level, and once the two are placed on the same level, then the autonomy of the patient becomes absolute, and not respect for life.”
Despite meeting resistance from Br. Stockman, the religious group demanded on implementing their new policy, which came into effect in June for each of the 15 psychiatric centers they run throughout Belgium but now since His Holiness Pope Francis have ordered the group to stop offering euthanasia, the group is expected to recheck their decision by the end of this month.
Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
