Swiss advocate urges churches to address assisted dying ahead of referendum

As the canton of Zurich prepares for a referendum on assisted dying, Dr. Markus Müller, founder of the advocacy group Initiative Pro Aging, is calling on churches to engage in deeper conversations regarding the end of life. Writing for the Swiss Evangelical Alliance, Müller argues that the debate should move beyond policy and address the cultural shift toward prioritizing individual self-determination over the endurance of suffering.

Drawing on his twelve years of experience at the Rämismühle Center, Müller suggests that modern society has become conditioned to view life as a series of improvements. He posits that because aging and decline resist this logic of constant progress, assisted dying is increasingly viewed as a way to escape the tension of physical frailty. Müller advocates for an approach he calls "unbroken love for broken life," urging believers to reconsider how they value and support individuals during their final stages of life.