The often scattered church pews are always full at Christmas. This year, the French episcopate has decided to use this enthusiasm, which it believes is unique this year, to send a political message. The Episcopal Conference of France (CEF) has actually recommended that a general prayer on the end of life be read at the end of the Christmas Mass homily in all parishes of the country.

The Church has never hidden its opposition to the possible legalization of euthanasia and, through the voice of its prelates in various forums and other press interviews, has rather called for a generalization of euthanasia by offering palliative care throughout the territory. In the prayer that they recommend to the priests, the bishops also refer to their opposition to abortion and speak of the two ends of existence, its beginning and its end.

“On this Christmas Eve/Day, when God visits our humanity and lives a life similar to ours, we pray with all the parishes of France to You, Lord, for the respect and protection of life, from its conception to its natural end . » And to continue to appeal directly to politicians: “May the light of Bethlehem illuminate our rulers so that those responsible for drafting and voting the law may become aware of the fact that all life is a gift to humanity, that all life is worthy and respectable.” » Prayer ultimately calls everyone to get involved “More with the most fragile and vulnerable to build an authentically human civilization”.

Spiritual time

Universal prayers are texts read every Sunday during Mass to pray for the world, society and politicians. Already in 2012, the bishops of France asked priests to read a prayer against marriage for everyone. In 2020 it is the bill to expand medically assisted reproduction to everyone who has been the subject of such a prayer request in all parishes.

In addition to the possibility of reaching more believers than usual at Christmas masses, it was of course also the possible submission of a bill on the end of life at the beginning of 2024 that prompted the bishops to make this recommendation. “The episcopate clearly sees that the bill is being prepared and wants to have its own influence on the debates: their way of doing this is to talk about it with everyone at Christmas.”explains a priest.

For Vincent Jordy, Archbishop of Tours and Vice President of the CEF, there are two phases in the way the Church deals with this issue. Firstly, the political time during the various meetings with the authorities, for example with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne in March or the current Health Minister Agnès Firmin Le Bodo in September. “During these interviews we presented our reasonable arguments, which were also developed by associations of caregivers, philosophers and lawyers…”, he explains. Today, he continues, is the spiritual time. “It is Christmas, a time that shows us that God has so much respect for human life that he has made himself one of us. And we want to take this moment to say that this life has value at all times, regardless of the age and health of the body. »

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