The Uruguay bishops conference expressed sadness after the country’s lower house of Congress approved a bill decriminalising euthanasia. Source: OSV News.
“We reiterate our support for palliative care that cares for and accompanies the patient with dignity,” the bishops said in an August 13 statement signed by conference president Bishop Milton Tróccoli of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas; vice president Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo; and secretary general Bishop Heriberto Bodeant of Canelones.
The lower house approved the Dignified Death Law by a 64-29 margin on August 13 with most lawmakers from the leftist Broad Front coalition and some from the more conservative Colorado Party supporting the bill.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. President Yamandú Orsi told reporters prior to the vote that he supports the measure “as long as extreme care and safeguards are taken”.
Leaders from the bishops conference’s permanent council met with Mr Orsi on August 5.
“We wanted to emphasise everything that can be done positively, that is, to promote care and support for people in their suffering … can help prevent unnatural endings of life,” Bishop Bodeant told reporters after the meeting.
The bishop clarified that the representatives of the Uruguay’s bishops conference, known as CEU, did not ask the president to veto the euthanasia law if it were passed.
“We simply stated our position,” Bishop Bodeant said. “The president listened to us with great respect and we discussed the importance of emphasising alternatives, care, and, especially, promoting palliative care.”
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Uruguay bishops express sadness over euthanasia vote (By David Agren, OSV News)
