Campaigners in Italy have passed the first hurdle in an effort to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. Both assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal in Italy, where the criminal law says, “anyone who causes the death of a man, with his consent, is punished with imprisonment from six to fifteen years.” Since April, pro-euthanasia activists have circulated a petition with the hope of bringing to vote a referendum to remove part of the law, which would effectively decriminalize assisted suicide for adults. The Italian bishops’ conference has expressed “serious concern” about the petition, stating that “there is no expression of compassion in helping to die.” Petition organizers said this week they have reached the minimum 500,000 signatures needed for parliament to choose whether to initiate the referendum. A successful referendum on assisted suicide, activists say, would clear the way for a bill also legalizing euthanasia, though lawmakers in the Catholic-majority country are divided on the issue.
Campaign for legal euthanasia, assisted suicide takes step forward in Italy – Catholic World Report
Campaign for legal euthanasia, assisted suicide takes step forward in Italy – Catholic World Report
