Catholic Church in Uruguay warns of risks of approving euthanasia

Uruguay’s Chamber of Deputies (lower house) is scheduled to vote on a euthanasia bill, titled as “death with dignity,” on Aug. 5. Just days before legislators cast their votes, Catholic Church leaders and professionals from various fields are weighing in against the measure.

An article published by the Archdiocese of Montevideo titled “Euthanasia: A ‘Right’ That Violates Other Rights” compiles testimonies, beginning with Dutch bioethics expert and professor Theo Boer, who was one of the advocates and activists for the legalization of euthanasia two decades ago. After reviewing thousands of cases, he warned of the sustained growth in requests and, fundamentally, the reasons for each case.

Recognizing his mistake, Boer has traveled the world — and visited Uruguay — to warn about the risks of enabling “assisted suicide,” pointing out that “what began as an exception has become a common practice,” violating the rights of the most disadvantaged.

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