Brussels, Belgium, Sep 12, 2017 / 09:38 am
The board of the Belgian Brothers of Charity announced Tuesday it will continue offering euthanasia to patients in their psychiatric centres, despite being ordered by the Vatican to stop doing so.
The "Broeders van Liefde" board had been given until the end of August to comply with the Vatican order, which was seen and approved by Pope Francis. Brothers of the order were also asked to sign a joint letter to their general superior, Brother René Stockman, confirming their adherence to Church teaching.
In a Sept. 12 statement the organization defied the Vatican request and said it "continues to stand by its vision statement on euthanasia for mental suffering in a non-terminal situation."
Furthermore, it claims that in adhering to this vision, the organization "is still consistent with the doctrine of the Catholic Church. We emphatically believe so."