Regarding the legalization of euthanasia, the Episcopal Commission for Life, Laity, and Family of the Argentine episcopate has expressed its opposition to the four bills presented to Congress, emphasizing that the country is facing "a new expression of the culture of death and the throwaway culture."
In a statement published on August 18, the Episcopal Commission for Life, Laity, and Family (CEVILAF) recalled that "the Gospel obliges us not to remain indifferent to discussions about the beginning and end of life."
There are currently four requests for the legalization of euthanasia: bills 4597-D-2021 and 4734-D-2021, presented last year, and bills 3956-D-2022 and 4092-D-2022, presented in 2022.
In its statement, the Church in Argentina warned: "We are facing a new manifestation of the culture of death and the throwaway culture and, at the same time, we are facing a people who claim every day to take care of their life and needs as important as health, work, housing, and land."
"Although a society cannot eliminate suffering, it can always devote all its energy to the life of those who suffer," the letter continues, recalling that Argentina "has a rich history in which this has been done," with many alternatives "to accompany with science and humanity in physical and moral pain."
"We see a magnificent example of this in hospices and in cottolengos (homes for the disabled and distressed)," the bishops add.
The statement emphasizes that "even in the case of an incurable illness, all patients must be cared for and accompanied in such a way that their life is respected until their natural death. We are not owners of life and that is why we place ourselves at its service."
In this sense, the document called for valuing "palliative and comprehensive care which, in the case of serious illness, relieves pain, assists those who suffer, and does much good for the person concerned and their family."
"It is important to accompany the anguish of those who suffer, their physical and moral pain. The nature of medicine is to heal, but also to alleviate and humanize the process of death. Taking life does not relieve suffering. Caring for life and proposing to serve it at all times is our mission—that of everyone, from their place of devotion and witness of faith."
The Church emphasized that "every life is precious" and recalled that the country "is emerging from a pandemic during which we saw and see how medical personnel shouldered the pain and suffering of so many sick and dying men and women. We heard them weep over the loss of a life for which they had fought tirelessly."
"Out of respect for the life that comes to us from God and which we do not possess, out of respect for so many people who, as medical personnel, dedicated themselves to the care of life, out of respect for those who are no longer among us and who died during these years.
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We ask God that there be no place in our beloved country for laws that leave those who suffer the most alone by the wayside; that exclude from the table of life those who suffer the most," concludes the statement.
This article was originally published by the German Catholic News Agency ( Article Link ).