Belgium Archives - Page 4 of 5

Dutch cardinal: Don’t underestimate power of Catholics as a ‘creative minority’

Oct 3, 2017

Between 2003 and 2013, the Catholic population of the Netherlands declined by 589,500. Catholics now represent just 22.9 percent of the country according to 2015 data. Cardinal Wilhelm Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht, says the solution to growing secularism is for faithful Catholics to build a culture of life by becoming a “creative minority.”

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Brothers of Charity are clear: No euthanasia in our hospitals

Sep 17, 2017

The head of the Brothers of Charity said the order may withdraw its sponsorship of 15 hospitals in Belgium after the board voted to ignore a Vatican demand not to perform euthanasia at the facilities. Brother René Stockman said the Brothers of Charity would remain faithful to the Church’s teaching, despite serious civil pressure to the contrary.

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Defying Vatican, Belgian religious brothers will continue to offer euthanasia

Sep 13, 2017

In a September 12 statement, the board of the Belgian Brothers of Charity defied a Vatican request to end euthanizing patients, and said it “continues to stand by its vision statement on euthanasia for mental suffering in a non-terminal situation.” The Brothers of Charity in Belgium run 15 psychiatric hospitals with 5,000 patients.

By Catholic News Agency

Former Belgian PM challenges Pope Francis on euthanasia ban for religious hospitals
- Aug 14, 2017
Herman Van Rompuy, who has formerly served as the President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Belgium, has tweeted a message implying Pope Francis cannot tell a Belgian religious order to stop performing euthanasia at its medical clinics. Van Rompuy serves on the board of the Brothers of Charity Group.

By Inés San Martín
Pope tells Belgian Brothers of Charity no more euthanasia for patients
- Aug 8, 2017
The Brothers of Charity, which runs 15 centers for psychiatric patients across Belgium, formally implemented its euthanasia policy in June, just weeks after the bishops declared they would not accept euthanasia in Catholic institutions. About 12 psychiatric patients in their care are believed to have asked for euthanasia over the past year, with two transferred elsewhere to receive the injections to end their lives.

By Simon Caldwell
Vatican launches Belgium euthanasia investigation
- May 6, 2017
The Vatican is formally investigating a group of psychiatric care centers in Belgium run by a Catholic religious order which has enforced that doctors in the facilities perform euthanasia. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will be overseeing the situation himself.

By Simon Caldwell