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Skriven 2005-02-01 16:44:48 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45.1)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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              The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                        Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

LIFE, A GIFT TO BE LOVED AND DEFENDED AT ALL STAGES

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)

SUMMARY

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