VATICAN CITY, JAN 27, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See
Press Office, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the
Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", and Bishop Andre-Mutien
Leonard of Namur, Belgium, an expert in questions relating to
euthanasia, presented John Paul II's Message for Lent, whose theme
is "Loving the Lord ... means life to you and length of days"
(Deut 30:20).
Archbishop Cordes affirmed that "the current relevance of the
Message is clear when the Pope writes: 'Thanks to the contribution
of science and medicine, one sees in society today a lengthening of
the human life span and a subsequent increase in the number of
elderly'." The archbishop pointed out how "the number of elderly
people has increased rapidly over recent years, while at the same
time the number of young people has diminished," consequently "a
small percentage of young people must bear the burden of the large
number of elderly."
"It is clear that, with these new imbalances, the social cost
of caring for the elderly constitutes a danger for the younger
working population. This, in turn, may generate tension between the
two groups or - as has already been written - a 'war of
generations.' ... Also evident is the fear arising in young people,
when they find themselves dependent, as a minority, on elderly
people whose security, health and support they must at the same time
guarantee."
The president of "Cor Unum" indicated that "young
people are becoming ever more aware that the elderly are an onus
with various implications. They cost too much, they occupy living
and housing space, they limit free time and amusement, they remind
the young of their own future, they touch our feelings when they
suffer and when they thus indicate our own future suffering. Why,
then, not remove them from sight? Why not exile them behind high
walls? Why not offer them an agreeable death, and so get rid of them
for good?
"There are associations that promote the 'right' - as they call
it - to a 'dignified death.' The world of science offers concrete
means to this end, cinema seeks to incite emotional attacks against
existing laws, and politicians look to a new culture - the culture
of death."
"Politicians must not be allowed to sacrifice man's dignity to
populist or economic interests," the archbishop concluded. "The
dignity of man is untouchable, because it is a gift of God. Yet we
must exercise our influence not only on the state and society: Even
in our private life - in the family and the neighborhood - we must
be guided by these words of the Pope."
Bishop Leonard, recalling a phrase from the Pope's Lenten
Message - "human life is a precious gift to be loved and
defended in each of its stages" - then spoke about euthanasia,
which he defined as "an explicit act or omission which, of
itself or in its intention, brings death with the aim of ending the
suffering of a terminally ill person."
"Euthanasia in its true sense is not to be confused with
the perfectly legal use of prescribed analgesic products that aim to
suppress or alleviate pain, even though they may result in a
shortening of life."
The bishop of Namur made reference to paragraph nine of
Recommendation 1418, approved by the Council of Europe in 1999,
which "categorically excludes recourse to euthanasia for the
terminally ill or dying, highlighting that the terminally ill or
dying person's wish to die cannot of itself constitute a legal
justification to carry out actions intended to bring about death."
The bishop concluded by saying that in his Message, the Holy
Father promotes a humanist approach. "Let us hope that this positive
attitude, in keeping not only with the Catholic faith but also with
philosophical humanism, prevails over the terrible temptation of
euthanasia."
OP/LENT MESSAGE/CORDES:LEONARD VIS 050127 (670)