"How many times are old people just discarded, victims of an abandonment that is tantamount to hidden euthanasia?"

At a gathering of some 40,000 elderly people in St. Peter's Square, Rome, Pope Francis said that neglect of the old is "hidden euthanasia".

He also said that homes for the elderly should not become prisons. "How many times are old people just discarded, victims of an abandonment that is tantamount to hidden euthanasia? This is the result of a throw-away culture that is hurting our world so much", the Pope stated. [Reuters, 28 September]

Other stories:

• Doctors wrongly predicted bleak future for premature baby
• Dana vindicated as brother acquitted
• Church of Scotland minister opposes plans for opt-out organ donation system in Scotland
• Belgian parents plan their death by euthanasia with the blessing of their children
• German ethics council calls for decriminalisation of incest
• Newly-appointed Catholic archbishop of Sydney famous for his pro-life views [Catholic News, 24 September]
• Zenit news agency reports on Catholic bishop who appears to back IVF [John Smeaton, 8 October]
• Surrogacy becomes big business in Mexican state of Tabasco [Center for Genetic and Society, 24 September]
• 30 babies genetically modified in ’97 will finish secondary school this year [Freenewspos, 28 September]
• Euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands continue their relentless rise [Peter Saunders, 29 September]
• 29 year old woman moves to Oregon to commit suicide [Refinery29, 6 October]