Statement by the Association of Slovenian Catholic Doctors on the referendum on the Act on Assisted Voluntary End of Life
The Association of Slovenian Catholic Doctors is following with the utmost concern the efforts to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in the Republic of Slovenia.
Catholic nursing homes and other Catholic healthcare institutions in Slovenia care for more than 1,200 elderly and seriously ill residents. Their work is based on Christian ethics, which considers life from conception to natural death to be inviolable and sacred. They protect life with highly professional healthcare, quality palliative care, psychological and spiritual support, and genuine humanity.
The proposed legislation does not provide for conscientious objection at the institutional level. From the experience of countries where euthanasia is already legal (Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, etc.), we know that pressures are being exerted on vulnerable people, abuses occur that are difficult to detect and punish, and that the boundaries of what is permissible are gradually expanding to ever wider groups (mentally ill, minors, demented, etc.).
It is especially unacceptable that Catholic institutions be forced to:
- provide their own premises, equipment and personnel for the implementation of suicide or euthanasia,
- participate in actions that are in direct conflict with the faith and mission of the institutions,
- violate the fundamental Christian belief that we should never, under any circumstances, intentionally end an innocent human life.
Assisted suicide and euthanasia are not and cannot be part of the mission of Catholic health and social care institutions. They clearly assure their patients, their relatives and the entire Slovenian public of this.
They are already responding effectively to wishes to end their lives by strengthening palliative care and monitoring in the last moments. They accompany people in their dying hours, but never assist in suicide.
They are therefore calling on all voters to reject the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia in the referendum.
Association of Slovenian Catholic Doctors, November 15, 2025
Signatories of the statement:
Ljubljana Parish Institute Trnovo – Caritas; St. Joseph’s Home; St. Raphael’s Home; St. Teresa’s Home; Caritas Institute for Care, Nursing and Social Services; St. Cyril and Methodius Institute Beltinci; Institute of the Sisters of Mercy – St. Catherine’s Home; St. Martin’s Institute.
Association of Slovenian Catholic Doctors, Trubarjeva cesta 82, 1000 Ljubljana
zdravniki@rkc.si
https://katoliski-zdravniki.si
Catholic Medical Association Slovenia Statement on Assisted Dying 15 november 2025
