The Belgian family of an elderly cancer sufferer who wanted to die by euthanasia is suing a Catholic care home for refusing to allow a lethal injection on Church-run premises. Mariette Buntjens died days later after receiving the injection from a doctor in a private residence.
The woman’s daughter Nadine Engelen claims the Sint-Augustinus rest home in Diest caused her mother needless “physical and mental suffering” by refusing her request for euthanasia there.
Belgian law allows doctors to refuse to grant euthanasia on conscientious grounds, but makes no explicit allowance for institutions. Ms Engelen’s case, which will be considered by a Louvain civil court in April could determine whether Church-run institutions can refuse to be involved in acts of euthanasia.
Euthanasia technically remains a criminal offence in Belgium with doctors being exempt from prosecution only if they abide by carefully set criteria, but critics say the law is interpreted so liberally that euthanasia is available on demand.
Indian cardinal pushes for recognition of Kandhamal martyrs
A member of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinal Advisors is seeking the canonisation of dozens of Catholics killed in mob violence less than a decade ago.
Mumbai’s Cardinal Oswald Gracias said he has spoken to the Congregation for Saints and was willing to to ask Pope Francis to start the canonisation process for the “martyrs of Kandhamal”, referring to how some 100 Christians, roughly half of whom were Catholic, were murdered by Hindu nationalists over seven weeks in 2008 in which 56,000 people were displaced, and 395 churches were destroyed.
