The bishop urged the senators to champion a “plan for life” rather than a “plan for death that would stain our culture.”
Newsroom (23/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a powerful letter to the senators of Eure-et-Loir, Bishop Philippe Christory of Chartres has called for the rejection of France’s proposed “end-of-life” bill, warning that assisted suicide and euthanasia violate the fundamental principle of “You shall not kill.” The letter, addressed to Senators Chantal Deseyne, Daniel Guéret, and Albéric de Montgolfier, comes as the French Senate prepares to debate the controversial legislation, which has sparked intense national discussion.
The bill, introduced in May 2025, seeks to legalize “assistance in dying,” a term encompassing both euthanasia—where a medical professional administers a lethal substance—and assisted suicide, where the patient performs the act. The proposal would allow adults with serious, incurable conditions causing unbearable physical or psychological suffering to request such procedures, subject to medical evaluation. On May 24, the National Assembly advanced the bill by approving penalties for obstructing access to “assistance in dying,” criminalizing efforts to impede the act or related information.
In his letter, Bishop Christory denounced the legislation’s failure to protect the conscientious objection rights of doctors and pharmacists who oppose participating in lethal acts. “It is unacceptable that the freedom of conscience should be suppressed or limited; it is a fundamental right of every person,” he wrote, emphasizing that such acts contradict the medical profession’s purpose of caring for and supporting patients, even in their final days.
Citing France’s high suicide rate—over 8,000 cases in 2023—the bishop argued that promoting life, not death, is the hallmark of an advanced society. He highlighted the lack of adequate palliative care and the need for greater support for those facing suffering, noting that many who contemplate ending their lives often lack companionship and solidarity. “The end of life can be a decisive moment for reconsideration, reconciliation, and sharing with loved ones,” he wrote.
Drawing on the Catholic Church’s extensive work with the elderly, sick, and disabled, Christory underscored the value of supporting vulnerable individuals to live fully until their natural death. He pointed to the efforts of over 130 volunteers in Eure-et-Loir’s hospital and care home chaplaincies, who witness daily the importance of respecting life.
Expressing concern over growing societal individualism and indifference, the bishop urged the senators to champion a “plan for life” rather than a “plan for death that would stain our culture.” He called for policies fostering solidarity and support for the fragile, warning that the proposed law risks undermining France’s moral fabric.
As the Senate deliberates, Bishop Christory’s letter stands as a poignant appeal to prioritize human dignity and compassion over legislative measures that, in his view, erode the sanctity of life.
- Raju Hasmukh with file from CNA
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