Bishops of Argentina Respond to "Worthy Death" Bills: Reaffirm the Value of Life

RIO NEGRO, Argentina, July 17, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Bishops of Rio Negro have reaffirmed the value of human life "from conception until natural death" in response to proposed "worthy death" bills, Fides News Agency reports.

Provincial authorities of Rio Negro are deciding whether or not to allow terminally ill patients to make a statement refusing medical treatment, Spanish-language Adnmundo.com reports. In response, the Catholic Bishops of Rio Negro have issued a statement, clarifying and reaffirming the Church's teaching on end of life care.

In the statement, the Bishops affirm that the Church has always been against "medical intervention not suited to the condition of the patient". This refers to disproportionate methods of keeping the patient alive, but does not include the basic and necessary requirements of human life such as feeding and hydration.

Commenting on the bills, the Bishops say that the truth of the dignity of human life "is not respected in these proposed laws." They also stress the need for more "social and bio-ethical debate" and the need to "clarify many aspects from the juridical, sanitary and administrative points of view", reports Fides.

The Bishops fear these regional laws may jeopardize the patient's "authentic quality of life." They also say that a "worthy death" means treatment of pain, spiritual care and being with one's family.

The Bishops reaffirm, "The fundamental worth of all human life, the dignity which springs from the fact that man is in the image and likeness of the Creator, dignity which nothing and nobody can deprive us of." They underline the importance of giving people the care that is due every human person through the knowledge and understanding of the most modern and humanistic science: basic sanitary assistance, food, water, hygiene, heat, avoiding the complications that come from being bed-ridden, etc.

After suggesting various constructive ways in which the terminally ill can be aided, the Bishops say, "We ask our priests, religious and lay people, to give special care to the mission of evangelizing the sick, bringing them the consolation and courage of Christian faith and hope, through an encounter that is human, simple, direct and personal-that one can do in the most simple of visits."

"Renewing our commitment to life, from conception until its natural end, we greet everyone with brotherly affection and give them the blessing of God, 'who loves life' (Wis. 12:26).

(With files from Fides Agency)

See statement in original Spanish-language:
http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/chieselocali/c...

Read additional Spanish-language coverage:
http://www.adnmundo.com/contenidos/politica/muerte_digna_rio...

Read the LifeSiteNews.com editorial:

The Cruelest Irony of All - When "Those Who Heal You Will Kill You"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jul/07071010.html

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