UPDATE: Vatican investigating Catholic hospitals in Belgium that allow euthanasia

After it was revealed that Catholic psychiatric hospitals in Belgium would permit euthanasia, it sparked an international uproar.

Now, the Vatican is getting involved:  

The Vatican is investigating the decision of a group of psychiatric care centers run by a Catholic religious order in Belgium to permit doctors to perform euthanasia of “nonterminal” mentally ill patients on its premises.

Brother Rene Stockman, superior general of the Brothers of Charity, told Catholic News Service that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, is personally examining the situation.

Brother Stockman complained directly to Rome after the Brothers of Charity Group, which runs 15 centers for psychiatric patients across Belgium, rejected a formal request from him to reverse the new policy.

In a May 4 email to CNS, Brother Stockman said: “Because it is a matter of the Belgian group, I informed the Belgian bishops’ conference in order to ask for their opinion and to ask a clear statement of them.

“At the same time, I am in contact with the Vatican — the Congregation (for Institutes) of Consecrated Life (and Societies of Apostolic Life) and the secretary of state who asked me for more information,” said Brother Stockman, a psychiatric care specialist.

“I hope that there will come a clear answer from the Belgian bishops and the Vatican,” he continued. “I have trust in it.”

Read more.