Belgian Catholic hospitals that provide euthanasia will cease being Catholic.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

In April, 2017; 15 Belgian psychiatric hospitals that are operated by the Belgian Brothers of Charity, announced that they would allow euthanasia in their institutions.

Soon after, Br Rene Stockman, the superior general of the Brothers of Charity, said he was devastated by the news and asked the Vatican to intervene in this case.

According to Zenit news, in August 2017, the Vatican sent a letter to the Belgian Brothers of Charity condemning euthanasia and ordered them to stop euthanasia in their psychiatric institutions.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has ordered the Belgian Brothers of Charity to cease identifying the psychiatric hospitals as Catholic institutions now that they permit euthanasia.

According to CNA news the letter from the CDF from March 30, 2020 stated:

"with deep sadness" the "psychiatric hospitals managed by the Provincialate of the Brothers of Charity association in Belgium will no longer be able to consider themselves Catholic institutions."

CNA news also reported that Brother René Stockman the superior general of the Brothers of Charity, said that "with a heavy heart" the religious congregation "must let go of its psychiatric centers in Belgium."

More information on this topic:

• Article: Is euthanasia psychiatric treatment? (Link).
• Article: Why legalizing medical assistance in dying for people with mental illness is misguided (Link).
• Article: Psychiatrists must prevent suicide, not provide it (Link).
• Article: Dr Mark Komrad: Why psychiatrists should oppose euthanasia (Link).