Originally published at The Crux
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Following a long and complicated parliamentary battle, French MPs have now approved assisted suicide and euthanasia, sparking outrage from the country’s bishops.
On Wednesday evening, the National Assembly – the lower house – approved the legislation by 291 votes to 241.
It was the fourth time the National Assembly passed the legislation, but on three separate occasions the French Senate rejected the bill. However, under a constitutional mechanism invoked by the government, the National Assembly was able to pass the law without the Senate’s agreement.
Before it can become law, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has referred parts of the bill to France’s Constitutional Council.
A statement in reaction to the news was released by the Bishops’ Conference of France (CEF) in the name of Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the CEF, and two vice-presidents, Bishop Vincent Jordy of Tours and Bishop Benoit Bertrand of Pontoise.
“By choosing to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, the members of parliament have enshrined in French law the possibility of causing death. This choice breaks with the long tradition of care, whose vocation is to alleviate suffering and accompany each person to the natural end of their life,” the statement said.
“The effects of
