France to Require Religious Clinics to Perform Euthanasia

On June 29, 2026, the French Parliament rejected an amendment granting medical institutions the right to refuse participation in euthanasia on grounds of conscience. If the "end-of-life assistance" bill is passed, religious and private clinics will be required to perform euthanasia and assisted suicide, reports The European Conservative.

The controversy was sparked by an amendment intended to protect hospitals, hospices, and clinics that object to euthanasia on religious, ethical, or professional grounds. However, lawmakers refused to include this provision in the bill. As a result, institutions whose mission is founded on the protection of life, care for the sick, and palliative support may effectively be compelled to participate in procedures that contradict their convictions.

The issue concerns not only individual physicians but medical institutions themselves. Should the law be adopted, clinics will be unable to invoke their own ethical position in order to refuse to organize euthanasia or assisted suicide. Opponents of the initiative argue that this transforms euthanasia from an exceptional measure into a mandatory medical service that even hospitals historically committed to accompanying patients to a natural death will be required to provide.

Catholic Bishop Matthieu Rougé sharply criticized the parliamentarians' decision, calling it a blow to freedom of conscience. According to him, many physicians and medical institutions had sought the right not to participate in euthanasia, as they consider it their duty to remain faithful to the fundamental principles of medicine and to respect the convictions of their patients.

"This is not a matter of secularism, but of freedom," the bishop stated. He noted that the authorities had previously allowed for the possibility of such a clause, but ultimately opposed all amendments that could have protected medical institutions from being compelled to perform euthanasia.

Rougé also expressed hope that during Pope Leo XIV's anticipated visit to France, the Pope would reaffirm the Church's position on the inadmissibility of euthanasia. According to the bishop, true fraternity lies not in helping a person to die, but in helping them to live — especially when it concerns the sick, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that the Netherlands performed euthanasia on a child under 12 years of age for the first time.

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