French bishops welcome Senate’s rejection of assisted suicide, approval of palliative-care legislation

January 31, 2026

The Conference of Bishops of France welcomed a 144-23 vote in the nation’s Senate rejecting assisted-suicide legislation.

The National Assembly, or lower house of the French Parliament, approved assisted-suicide legislation last May.

The Senate’s rejection of assisted suicide “appears to be a sign of a major political and societal deadlock and underlines the seriousness of the ethical questions that arise,” the bishops’ conference said in a January 29 statement. “The Senate’s vote, by highlighting the lack of consensus, only underlines the expectations, fears and even opposition expressed in society.”

“To give death will never be a human, fraternal and dignified response to suffering,” the bishops added.

At the same time, the bishops’ conference welcomed the Senate’s approval of palliative-care legislation.

“The relief of pain at the end of life constitutes a major moral imperative,” the conference stated.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Après le vote du Sénat, les évêques de France invitent les députés à se mobiliser largement et à débattre sans précipitation (Église catholique en France, 1/29/26)
• French assisted suicide Bill left unworkable after Senate rejects core clause (Right To Life News, 1/26/26)