French bishops oppose government’s ‘end of life’ bill

By Jean-Benoît Harel

"Do not distort fraternity." This is the response of the French bishops to President Emmanuel Macron, who mentioned "a revolution of fraternity" regarding the bill dedicated to end-of-life issues.

On the first day of their plenary assembly in Lourdes on Monday, March 18, around 100 bishops of France adopted a strong opposition to the bill, which plans to legalize active assistance in dying under certain strict conditions.

This opposition was expressed in a statement published on Tuesday, March 19, as the bill has just been submitted to the Council of State for review.

Priority to palliative care

In a statement, the bishops reaffirm their "commitment to the French approach of refusing induced death and giving priority to palliative care," following the recommendations of the National Consultative Ethics Committee.

The Bishops’ Conference also calls on French Catholics to engage with people with disabilities, the elderly, or those at the end of life.

"The request for assisted suicide or euthanasia is often an expression of a feeling of loneliness and abandonment to which we cannot, and must not, resign ourselves," explain the bishops.

On this feast day of Saint Joseph, who is also called the patron of a "good death" because he died in the arms of Mary and Jesus according to tradition, the French bishops hope to influence the parliamentary discussions that will open in committee next month.

Some 81% of French people support the bill, according to a survey conducted by the Ifop-Fiducial institute for Sud Radio following the announcement made by the French president.

Support for victims

Many other topics await the bishops at this spring Plenary Assembly.

Several sessions will be devoted to monitoring the measures announced for the support of victims of abuse within the Church. A meeting with members of the National Canonical Penal Tribunal will be organized.

The president of the SELAM fund responsible for financial contributions to victims and the president of the INIRR (National Independent Instance of Recognition and Reparation) will also be heard.

A decision from the bishops is expected regarding the extension of the mandate of the INIRR, as well as on a future mechanism aimed at supporting adult victims of abuse within the Church.

"Our Church in France must be capable, in the medium and long term, of hearing any complaint seriously implicating the behaviour or actions of an ordained minister or a responsible layperson, and of accompanying the victims until the end," assured Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishop’s Conference, in his opening speech.

Diaconate and seminaries

Regarding the various ministries in the Church of France, two hours of work per week will be dedicated to the permanent diaconate, "of which the Church celebrates the 60th anniversary this year," emphasized Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. This theological study will be a way to honour the mission of permanent deacons in the service of the Church.

"We thank their wives, who have supported and continue to support them in this adventure, their children, and grandchildren," he continued.

Additionally, regarding instituted ministers, the bishops will formalize the translation of the ritual of the institution of catechists.

The president of the French Bishops’ Conference sees this as a way to give thanks because these "ordained or instituted ministers are truly gifts from God, gifts of the resurrected Christ."

Several reorganizations

Finally, the President of the French Bishops' Conference announced the vote on several changes in the organization of the Church of France.

One of these decisions could concern the future of Christian radios, following the extensive work of Archbishop François Touvet and the Council for Communication.

A report has been submitted to the bishops who will have to make a decision.

"It is necessary that we evaluate this tool together and express what we collectively expect from it," explained the Archbishop of Reims.

The Conference also welcomed the head of its new Institutional Affairs department, Céline Reynaud-Fourton.

The department’s task is to monitor governmental initiatives and strengthen ties with civil society. "A few meetings with top executives of companies, for example, have made me realize how many decision-makers are unaware of our Conference and its modes of action," the president of the French Bishops’ Conference lamented.

This new position finally illustrates the reorganization of the conference into sectors, three of which will be led by episcopal commissions.

The Spring plenary assembly 2024 will conclude on Friday, March 22.