It’s not over!
In a press release dated February 27, 2026, the French bishops highlight the reduction in the majority in favor of the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. 60% during the first vote on this law on May 27; 56% in the second vote on Wednesday. The opposition increased from 39.5% to 43%. Abstention fell from 11.3% to 7%.
Supporters of legalization welcome a victory in this second vote while opponents, including the Catholic Church, emphasize that the matter is not over. The bishops add that a question touching on life and death “cannot be decided by such a fragile majority”.
Are the voices of opponents taken into account?
On such a serious subject, it becomes indecent to be satisfied with a simple lead in the number of votes. In matters of voting, the tradition of the Church, while recognizing the logic of the majority, promotes the search for consensus, welcoming and taking into account the objections of the minority. Risks of social or family pressure to direct the choice of people towards assisted suicide or euthanasia, “radical transformation of the doctor’s mission” which would include the fact of causing death: the bishops note several reservations on crucial questions which have not been taken into account in the law.
Religious congregations and EHPAD groups asked that their choice to support their residents until the end be respected without offering euthanasia or assisted suicide within their walls. The text voted on this Wednesday, February 25, 2026 does not take these requests into account. On the contrary, it establishes an “offense of obstruction” “for “preventing or attempting to prevent practicing or obtaining information about assisted dying.” Even if the Minister of Health specified that this offense targets acts of intimidation and disinformation, it constitutes an intimidating reality which can dissuade people from informing a person wondering about their end of life that the institution to which they belong is unfavorable to assisted suicide or euthanasia.
The meaning of words, object of a fight
What will be disinformation on the matter? In any case, there is an intense debate about words and their meaning. Proponents of active assistance in dying speak of an act of “fraternity”, of “progress” in “humanity”. The Catholic Church, in its press release, defends another understanding of these words: “deliberately causing death cannot constitute human progress”.
She reaffirms “that a truly fraternal society can be recognized by the way in which it surrounds the most fragile, not by the ease with which it agrees to cause their death”.
The debate is not over
The two laws will be re-examined in a public session in the Senate in early April. Having rejected the creation of assisted dying at its first reading, what will senators do? It is likely that the two chambers will not agree, including within a joint committee bringing together deputies and senators in the event of deep disagreement. It would then be up to the National Assembly to decide.
Those in favor of introducing assisted suicide and euthanasia want to move as quickly as possible, in order to resolve the issue before summer. In the coming weeks, it is more important than ever that minority voices are expressed, especially when citizens address their representatives, senators and deputies.
