The Catholic bishops of Belgium have said they oppose euthanasia for mentally ill patients, saying such a step “attacks the very foundations of our civilisation”.
Their statement comes amid a wide backlash against a decision by the Belgian branch of the Brothers of Charity to allow euthanasia in its psychiatric hospitals.
The move was condemned by Brother René Stockman, the superior general of the order.
Brother Stockman said he had made a formal request to the Brothers to reverse the decision and had contacted the Vatican about it.
On Monday the bishops said: “We cannot agree that euthanasia is practised on psychiatric patients who are not terminally ill.
“Our point of view does not mean that we want to leave the person in pain. The mental suffering may be immense and a person may find himself totally desperate and without any hope ¬- but it is precisely in this situation that we must remain close to him and not abandon him.
“There is, in fact, a limit and a prohibition that have been in force for so long, since the origins of men living together,” they said. “If we touch it, we are attacking the very foundations of our civilisation.
“That’s the reason why we call for great restraint and continuing dialogue on these issues,” the bishops said.
The bishops also expressed their “deep appreciation” for those who helped care for psychiatric patients. The Brothers of Charity run 15 psychiatric centres in the country which care for more than 5,000 patients a year.
Having been unable to sell in churches for well over a year due to the pandemic, we are now inviting readers to support the Herald by investing in our future. We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values.
Please join us on our 130 year mission by supporting us. We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching. For more information from our chairman on contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund, click here
Make a Donation
Donors giving £500 or more will automatically become sponsor patrons of the Herald. This includes two complimentary print/digital gift subscriptions, invitations to Patron events, pilgrimages and dinners, and 6 gift subscriptions sent to priests, seminaries, Catholic schools, religious care homes and prison and university chaplaincies. Click here for more information on becoming a Patron Sponsor. Click here for more information about contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund