2024-03-12 08:26:29
Late Sunday afternoon, March 10, their phones rang one after the other. At the end of the line, the Elysée. The presidential palace wanted, before the publication of the interview given by Emmanuel Macron to the daily newspapers The cross et Release, warn each representative of the religion that a speech by the President of the Republic on the end of life was imminent. Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists and Orthodox have all been asked to carefully read the press articles in order to become aware of the wishes of the Head of State on a subject which particularly concerns them: Emmanuel Macron wishes, as he indicated in the two newspapers, a bill opening a “assisted dying” sous “strict conditions” for the month of April.
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The call ahead of these announcements, several pointed out on Monday, was seen as a sign of” regard “ a you « respect » of the President of the Republic to them. The approach also comes after two dinners organized at the Elysée during which representatives of religions were able to give their point of view on this particularly sensitive issue for believers of all stripes. The religious leaders were all able to meet the Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin.
However, this close relationship and these considerations did not prevent some of them from expressing astonishment, even discontent, on Monday morning. The Catholics were the first to raise the charge. In an interview with The crossEric de Moulins-Beaufort, archbishop of Reims and president of the Conference of Bishops of France, declared: “Calling a text that opens up both assisted suicide and euthanasia “law of fraternity” is a deception. »
“Words matter”
Matthieu Rougé, bishop of Nanterre, confides a feeling of “sadness and inverted perspective”. The prelate, who was present at the last dinner organized on the issue at the Elysée, recalls having heard the President of the Republic speak of“a major law on palliative care and a restrictive provision in response to inextricable situations”. There, he believes, it is above all a question “assisted dying” when palliative care, according to him, is relegated to the background. The Catholic Church, like other religions, has insisted since the start of debates on the importance of access to palliative care for patients at the end of life, regularly recalling that a large number are today deprived of it. “I also think that it is the triumph of autonomy over solidarity”judges Matthieu Rougé.
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