Euthanasia in Uruguay: Bishops say no to the bill and support palliative medicine

The nine bishops in the exercise of Uruguay joined to transmit to the community a firm message of rejection in the face of the imminent vote of the euthanasia bill.

The bill, which has been discussed for eight years in the country, took momentum again at the initiative of the Frente Amplio and the Colorado Party, and will be voted on Tuesday, August 12 in the House of Representatives.

If approved there and then in the Senate, Uruguay would become the third country in Latin America to legalize the practice, behind Colombia and Ecuador.

In a VIDEOMANSAJEthe bishops of the different dioceses of Uruguay issued their position regarding the project. First, Mons. Milton Tróccoli, Bishop of Maldonado-Punta del Este-mines, recalled that “the dignity of each person is an absolute, inalienable gift, which is never lost.”

For his part, Mons. Pedro Wolcan, Bishop of Tacuarembó, stressed that “for God, every life is infinitely loved and worthy of all our care.”

From the Diocese of Mercedes, Mons. Luis Eduardo González considered that “our society must host, protect and accompany each person until the end of their earthly life.”

Monsignor Pablo Jourdán, bishop of Melo, expressed a “resounding to palliative medicine: care, relieve and comfort with love and professionalism”, a point that insisted the archbishop of Montevideo and primacy of Uruguay, Cardinal Daniel Sturla, when underlining the urgency of “implementing the law of palliative care so that no Uruguayan unnecessarily. “

“We all have the right to be careful and attended. Jesus taught us not to leave anyone lying on the side of the road,” added Mons. Fabián Antúnez, Bishop of San José.

Likewise, the bishops expressed a “firm not to euthanasia”; Since “causing the death of a patient is ethically unacceptable,” insisted the bishop of Florida, Mons. Martín Pérez Scremini

Human life, recalled Mons. Arturo Fajardo, bishop of Salto, “is a fundamental, unavailable and inalienable right,” therefore “it cannot be manipulation.”

Finally, Mons. Heriberto Bodeant, Bishop of Canelones, on behalf of the Church, offered “the light of Christ: faith, hope and love to embrace life to the last breath.”