Belgium to vote on child euthanasia

Tomorrow (13 February), the Belgian lower house will hold a final vote on proposals to extend Belgium's euthanasia laws to children.If passed, the Bill will permit children of all ages to choose to end their lives through the administration of a lethal injection.

Belgian officials have refused to allow for public input, such as a democratic vote, and are pushing the proposals through despite strong public opposition.

Fifty eight members of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Group recently signed a Written Declaration affirming that the move "betrays some of the most vulnerable children in Belgium" and "promotes the unacceptable belief that a life can be unworthy of life which challenges the very basis of civilised society".

Thirty eight Belgian paediatricians have said that the Bill is unnecessary since “palliative care teams for children are perfectly capable of achieving pain relief, both in hospital and at home”.

More than 55,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the proposals to be abandoned.

The campaign group Christian Concern writes: "We know from Scripture that life is a precious gift from God, and He alone has the right to give life and take it away. We are told that we are made in the image of God, and that he loves us with an everlasting love.

"Please pray: That opponents will be influential in a debate on the Bill being held in the Belgian Parliament today, ahead of tomorrow’s vote. That the lower house will reject the measure, and that Belgian officials will work on new laws that are in favour of life and long term care for vulnerable children and adults.

Sign the petition here:  www.citizengo.org/en/860-no-euthanasia-europe

Source: Christian Concern