On the surface it seems to be a shocking decision:  Belgium’s parliament has, by an overwhelming margin and over the objections of religious leaders, passed a bill that grants children the right to end their lives by euthanasia.

Even though one protester yelled out as it was passed, polls have indicated broad support for the bill in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Belgium.  The law allows for terminally ill children to opt to die rather than to live in unbearably painful circumstances, but there are clear and firm standards that must be met:  The patient in question must repeatedly request to die; the patient’s parents must approve; doctors and psychiatrists must also sign off to certify that the patient fully understands what is being requested.

Religious leaders argued the law is immoral.

“The law says adolescents cannot make important decisions on economic or emotional issues, but suddenly they've become able to decide that someone should make them die,” said Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard of Brussels.

Belgium legalized euthanasia for adults some 12 years ago.  And in the Netherlands to the north, euthanasia is legal for children over the age of 12, if there is parental consent.