The editorial of the week of 16/09/2022 with Camille: Euthanasia, Charles III, Armenia, the Christians of Lebanon

The editorial of the week with Camille is a summary of the four key topics that animated the Christian sphere this week. 

Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday the launch of a wide public consultation on the end of life, with a view to a possible new "legal framework" by the end of 2023. An announcement that comes as for the first time, the National Consultative Ethics Committee said it was in favor of the legalization of euthanasia in France. Immediately, opposition parties in parliament viewed the initiative with skepticism.

Queen Elizabeth II died last week, her son Prince Charles automatically succeeded her and took the name Charles III, his wife Camilla became queen consort.

In its first address to the nation, Friday September 9, the new monarch, who by taking over from Elizabeth has become the head of the Church of England, spoke in particular of his Christian faith.

Three days after being proclaimed king, he traveled to Belfast in Northern Ireland, a visit presented as historic by the local press. During this stay, the king and the queen consort notably attended a religious service in homage to Elizabeth II in the Sainte-Anne cathedral. A highly symbolic ceremony during which the role of the sovereign in reconciliation in Northern Ireland was evoked.

At least 49 Armenian servicemen were killed on Tuesday in large-scale clashes, the deadliest between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the war in 2020. Armenia denounces "aggression" by Azerbaijan.

[Update : At least 135 Armenian servicemen have been killed this week. There are also many injuries. This brings the death toll on both sides to more than 200. On the Azerbaijani side, the toll so far is 71 soldiers killed, according to Baku, since the start of the clashes which broke out on Tuesday.]

Historically complicated, relations between the two countries continue to be poisoned today by a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave populated mainly by Armenians.

While the dynamics of this conflict are highly complex, they have strong implications for religious freedom. Armenia being predominantly Christian, while the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan is mainly made up of Shia Muslims.

As often the editorial of the week ends with a bit of culture. 

Discover Sunday on Présence Protestante (France 2) Virginie Berda's documentary "Beirut, the Cross under the ashes".

For several years now, Lebanon has been facing a series of disasters, which have plunged the country into a spiral of collapse: political crisis, health crisis, economic crisis, explosion of the port of Beirut... In this context, spirituality and faith, however, continue to sparkle. Virginie Berda's documentary sets out to meet these Protestants of Beirut, who, every day, work to rebuild the country and comfort souls.

It will be broadcast on Sunday on France 2 from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Camille Westphal Perrier