SPUC welcomes beatification of anti-euthanasia Cardinal London, - The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has welcomed today's announcement by His Holiness Pope John Paul II that Cardinal Clemens August von Galen is to be beatified. Count von Galen, known as "The Lion of Munster", was a German bishop whose heroic defence of the sanctity of human life caused Adolf Hitler to halt the Nazi euthanasia programme. John Smeaton, SPUC national director, commented: "Cardinal von Galen is a model of fearless opposition to euthanasia, and we thank the Holy Father for honouring such heroic pro-life witness."