Pope Francis
Photo: Getty images Good Samaritan letter reiterates condemnation of assisted suicide and euthanasia
On Tuesday, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the publication of a letter approved by Pope Francis on June 25 and entitled ‘Samaritanus bonus (The Good Samaritan): On the Care of Persons in the Critical and Terminal Phases of Life’. It bears July 14 as its publication date, in honour of St Camillus de Lellis, the patron saint of the sick, hospitals, nurses and physicians.
“Incurable cannot mean that care has come at an end” – those who are terminally ill have the right to be welcomed, cured, loved. This is affirmed in Part One of Samaritanus bonus. The letter aims to provide concrete ways to put into practice the parable of the Good Samaritan, who teaches us that “even when a cure is unlikely or impossible”, medical care, nursing care, psychological and spiritual care “should never be forsaken”.
“The uninfringeable value of life is a fundamental principle of the natural moral law and an essential foundation of the legal order”, the letter states. “We cannot directly choose to take the life of another, even if they request it”. Citing Gaudium et spes, the document reiterates that “abortion, euthanasia and wilful self-destruction poison human society” and “are a supreme dishonour to the Creator”.
Pope receives a group of children and adolescents with ASD
Pope Francis expressed his delight at meeting the group of 42, including children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their parents and the staff of Ambulatorium Sonnenschein (the Sunshine Outpatient Clinic) where they are treated. “Welcome to the Vatican! I am happy to see your faces, and I read it in your eyes that you too are happy to be here with me for a while,” he told the group. “Your house is called ‘Sunshine’, a beautiful name!” the Pope said, adding, there is a reason behind it.
“It is because your house is like a magnificent blooming meadow in the sunshine and you are the flowers of this ‘Sunshine’ house!” He explained that God created the world with a great variety of flowers of all colours, and every flower has its beauty, which is unique. “Each of us,” the Pope said, “is also beautiful in God’s eyes, and God loves us.
“Thank you for this beautiful initiative and for your commitment to the little ones entrusted to you,” he said, adding: “Everything that you have done for one of these little ones, you have done it to Jesus!”
Church leading the way in the protection of minors
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) held its 14th Ordinary Plenary Assembly from September 16-18.
In an interview with Vatican News following the Plenary Assembly, Commission member Teresa Kettelkamp said that “contrary to how the media may portray it”, the Church’s response to the abuse crisis is “going strong and well”, adding, “it’s going strong and that is spreading throughout the world.”
Although neither the Church nor individuals within the Church are perfect, she said she thinks “the Catholic Church is being a leader in the world in protecting children and providing assistance to victims.”
She also spoke of the importance, in the healing process, of taking into consideration “the humanity of the offender” as well, noting that many abusers are themselves wounded.
The woundedness of offenders “doesn’t excuse” their actions, or “say it’s right,” she emphasised, “but if you can understand the woundedness of the offender, it can help with the survivors’ healing.”