In France, euthanasia will remain prohibited in all private institutions that so choose, particularly Catholic institutions. These institutions need only declare their respect for life in their statutes or through an ethical charter. This is their right, as finally recognized and guaranteed by the Constitutional Council on August 14, 2026.

Similarly, all pharmacists are now granted a conscience clause, which had previously been denied to them by Macron's majority.

This is a great victory, given the grim context surrounding the adoption of this unjust law.

As you know, we have worked tirelessly to achieve this, particularly in defense of the freedom of faith-based institutions. On this Assomption day, we can give thanks to God for this victory. There will continue to be sanctuaries in France where vulnerable people will not be in mortal danger.

Here is an on-the-spot interview analyzing the Council’s decision:

We will now continue this fight in other countries that have already legalized euthanasia, in order to guarantee the freedom of faith-based institutions there as well. In France, we are preparing to challenge the implementing decrees that will be adopted by the government in the coming months. Sadly, we are also preparing to counsel families who will be faced with a decision regarding the euthanasia of a loved one.

For the rest, the Constitutional Council’s decision is deplorable. 

It upholds all the other provisions of the law, including the short 48-hour window to confirm a person’s wish to die, the absence of information of the family members, the lack of legal remedies, euthanasia for individuals under legal guardianship, etc.  The serious risks of abuse created by this law—which we denounced in our statement to the Council—have therefore not been addressed.

There is yet another avenue of action: the motion to recuse Jacques Mézard—the euthanasia advocate who became a member of the Council—was not accepted by the Council. He therefore participated in the decision. This decision could therefore be challenged on grounds of bias before the European Court of Human Rights.

We will continue the fight.

I would like to thank everyone who supports us in this fight: the donors, the prestigious legal experts who have supported this cause, and especially the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of conscience and religion, who responded so effectively to Sister Agnès’s appeal during our meeting in Geneva: