The president of the Bishops' Conference of France (CEF) Eric de Moulins-Beaufort stressed Monday "the immense stakes" that will address the expected law on the end of life, while Pope Francis has just castigated a "culture of rejection" permeating "certain political choices".
Addressing "the challenge of discussing the bill on the end of life," Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort told the leaders of other faiths that "we all feel that there is an immense stake here for our country and for humanity."
"We are convinced that our country could bring out a more humane, more fraternal way of accompanying people at the end of life or suffering from incurable diseases, and help each and every one of us to keep the will to live rather than being attracted to a certain taste for death," he added.
One text, not two, according to the Élysée
The religious leaders were received on January 8 by Emmanuel Macron, who promised to consult them again on the end of life. The Élysée then specified that there would be only one law on the subject, while some had understood that there would be two texts, on the strengthening of palliative care and on assisted dying.
On Saturday, in a text published for the 32nd World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis warned against the "culture of rejection" permeating "certain political choices" that "do not put the dignity of the human person and his or her needs at the center." This "culture of individualism" can become "indifferent and even ruthless when people no longer have the strength to keep up," he added.
Addressing violence against women and children, Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort pleaded for "the inclusion in the Constitution of a commitment by the Republic to protect (them)" and "to promote their fundamental rights", according to him "more adequate and promising than that of a right of access to abortion" as promised by Emmanuel Macron.
He also pleaded to "deepen the bonds of friendship between Jews, Christians and Muslims" and urged to "cure the soul of our country of all anti-Semitism." After the vote on a tougher immigration law, he called on behalf of religious leaders "for migrants (...) are not treated as delinquents or criminals."