French Bishop Marc Aillet urges prayer before Senate euthanasia vote

Bishop Marc Aillet, head of the dioceses of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron, called on French Catholics to pray and fast on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, in an effort to defeat a Senate vote on a bill that would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. The proposal, described as a "right to assistance in dying," passed a second reading in the National Assembly on Feb. 25 and is scheduled for Senate deliberation from May 11‑13.

Aillet warned of “formidable moral and spiritual consequences” should the law pass, urging the faithful to write to legislators and highlighting the importance of palliative care, which he says can deter many patients from seeking assisted death. He noted that France’s palliative services are under‑resourced and pointed out that the number of parliamentarians opposing the bill has risen, indicating that the outcome remains open to influence.