Brother René Stockman is the superior general of the Brothers of Charity, a “congregation” of the Catholic Church which cares for the poor and the needy. Although residing in Rome in recent years, he has been one of the leading voices in Belgium opposing legalised euthanasia.
This week the Belgian region, where the congregation started in the 19th Century, announced the startling news that its hospitals would offer euthanasia to non-terminally-ill psychiatric patients who request it. This was big news in the Belgian media because the Brothers are major player in Belgium’s healthcare system, with 15 psychiatric hospitals and a number of other projects.
MercatorNet interviewed Brother Stockman by email about this break with Catholic opposition to euthanasia.
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MercatorNet: Is it certain that euthanasia will be offered in the hospitals of the Brothers of Charity? Or is there a possibility of reversing the decision?
Brother René Stockman: For the moment are we working on several levels …More