Churches and religious communities in Slovenia jointly warn against approving assisted suicide. The main representatives of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the country publicly signed a joint declaration in Ljubljana on Tuesday.
In it, religious leaders emphasize, among other things, that the legal introduction of the possibility of assisted suicide represents an indirect incentive for patients to end their own lives, “which we categorically reject”. helping the terminally ill, which paves the way for a distinction between “dignified” and “undeserving” lives.
Instead, everything must be done to help people who are suffering, ease their pain, be close to them and give them all the medical, religious and spiritual support they need, the statement said. Each person also now has the opportunity to “reject those therapies that do not eliminate suffering and illness, but would only prolong the agony of death”, emphasize the religious representatives. “Society's resources must be invested in a holistic vision of people and in expansion in palliative care”.
Currently, assisted suicide is not permitted in Slovenia. The background of the religious representatives' statement is a proposal presented to Parliament for a “Law on Assistance in the Voluntary End of Life”. Essentially, it provides that people over 18 years of age can request assisted suicide under certain conditions. In this context, a separate commission will be created. Applications must be examined and a psychiatric report obtained. An NGO successfully collected statements of support from more than 5,000 citizens for the bill in the spring. Therefore, the parliament in Ljubljana must discuss and vote on it.
Religious communities as a moral corrective
“The attempt to introduce assisted suicide means a change in the culture and image of humanity and human dignity,” warned the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, Andrej Saje, at a press conference in Ljubljana on Tuesday, according to the portal online “ druzina.si”. which was also attended by, among others, the President of the Jewish Community of Slovenia, Boris Cerin-Levi, the Lutheran Bishop Leon Novak and representatives of Orthodox Pentecostal churches.
Nevzet Poric, Mufti of the Islamic community in Slovenia, stressed that the decision on assisted suicide must be taken by society as a whole, for example in a referendum. “Religious communities are the moral corrective of the society we live in, so it is essential that we raise awareness about the problem and defend the value of life.”
(kap – gs)