Evangelical regional bishop of Hanover can imagine euthanasia

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A geriatric nurse is holding a woman's hand: the Federal Constitutional Court overturned the ban on euthanasia in February

From the point of view of the evangelical regional bishop of Hanover, Ralf Meister, the church should also stand by people if they want to end their lives with euthanasia. "You do not deny loyalty to anyone in such a situation. Not even if you believe that the person who wants to die could strain his relationship with God with his suicide," said Meister in an interview with the "Zeit" supplement Christ & Welt.

This is an act of charity. "I can imagine euthanasia in church institutions," said Meister. In principle, doctors should be able to assist in dying.

He believes there is no way to morally condemn the right to suicide. Euthanasia should never be treated as a legal or abstract theological problem. It affects people with a very personal life story in a very specific context.

If a person wants to die and wants the support of third parties, that must be taken seriously, said Master. "Of course I would like him to refrain from his plan. But if that doesn't happen, I have to stand by him, even during the suicide phase."

The church runs numerous nursing homes for the elderly, which are often combined with palliative care and hospice work. There are opportunities and skills there to lovingly and largely painlessly accompany people as they die.

"We need to debate whether we allow euthanasia for children"

Ralf Meister, Protestant regional bishop of Hanover

Bishop Meister asked the Protestant Church to continue the conversation about euthanasia. It also included euthanasia for sick children. "Even if it is a terrifying topic, we have to debate whether we allow euthanasia for children." This discussion is only just beginning. "I can honestly tell you: I don't yet know what my position is," said Master.

The Federal Constitutional Court ruled in February that the ban on euthanasia introduced in 2015 violated the Basic Law. The judgment was based on the right to self-determined death, which includes the freedom to take one's own life and to take advantage of offers from third parties. The Protestant and the Catholic Church had criticized the judgment.

sen / dpa / AFP