Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Archbishop of Valencia, has decried Spain’s move to legalise euthanasia as “the defeat of the whole of Spain, of Spanish society, of the people who live here, a defeat also of humanity, of man himself”.

Cardinal Canizares spoke out following the rejection of amendments to a euthanasia bill currently before the Spanish parliament, which called for “palliative care against euthanasia and assisted suicide, because it is the best option for all to have a dignified death”

The Cardinal denounced the decision this week to move forward with enshrining euthanasia in law, rather than seeking to protect and improve existing palliative care. Writing online, he called the move an “injustice” that “spreads and enlarges a culture of death”.

Addressing the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, the cardinal said: “My responsibility as Bishop and as a citizen does not allow me to remain silent.” The cardinal told ministers and parliamentarians that they had become “enemies” of “the common good” and an affront to the “fundamental rights and duties” of humanity, and “first is that of life”.

“With what moral authority can they address the people”? he asked.

Euthanasia in Spain

Euthanasia and all forms of assisted dying are currently illegal in Spain. Assisting in a person’s death can result in a sentence of up to ten years.

Last February, legislators in Spain voted 208 to 140 in favour of a draft bill, tabled by the governing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, to accept and assist in requests to die if a legal resident’s life is considered “unbearable”. Two doctors would preside over each case, followed by a commission.

After the rejection of this week’s proposed amendments calling for palliative care, the Spanish parliament is setting up a taskforce dedicated to shaping the new euthanasia law.

“Saying yes to the dignity of the person”

In a statement last Monday, the Spanish Bishops’ Conference called for palliative care in response to the proposed euthanasia draft law, saying: “Human life is not a good anyone can dispose of."

Referring to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the statement also said: “The fragility of life that we are experiencing during this time constitutes an opportunity to reflect on life’s meaning, fraternal care and the meaning of suffering and death…

“Saying yes to the dignity of the person, even more so during the moments of greatest defencelessness and fragility, obliges us to oppose this law which, in the name of supposed death with dignity, denies the dignity of every human life at its very roots.”