There are ten critical points to consider in relation to Charlie Gard, says Italian Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, former President of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital where eleven-month old Charlie has being cared for say he has no chance of survival or improvement. Prolonging his life may cause significant suffering. Charlie Read more
The international line-up of new Pontifical Academy of Life appointments include clergy and lay advisors from countries as diverse as Australia, Ukraine, Congo, Japan and Sweden. The 45 mainly male appointees include several former members as well as new ones. Experts chosen by Pope Francis for the Academy (which is his bioethics advisory board) include: Read more
A Vatican ethicist has condemned young American Brittany Maynard’s decision to end her life. Msgr Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, who is head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said there was no dignity in her physician assisted death. Ms Maynard, 29, took a lethal prescription provided by a doctor under Oregon state’s death-with-dignity law. Earlier Read more
In the normally tranquil world of the Vatican, where keeping up at least the appearance of unity is a fine art, the Pontifical Academy for Life has long been something of an outlier. There, internal tensions have a habit of erupting into full public view. The latest such row, featuring a public call from academy Read more