ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Bishops call for emergency meet on political crisis (UPDATE) Cardinal Rosales on Edsa: Change, do good Bishops call emergency meeting Thai airport back in business Obama mulls environment, energy posts Disgraced NY gov turns online scribe Lawmaker hangs up twice on Obama NASA delays Mars mission until 2011 Bombers return to Fallujah, kill 15 US envoys asked to resign 93 countries sign ban on cluster bombs ‘Bailout’ declared word of the year Cruise ship runs aground in Antarctica More Stories » News Manila sinking -- experts Moon, Venus, Jupiter form smiley Jobs for displaced BPO workers in ACS Women smokers in RP getting younger Start search for honest leaders now Mayor, 3 bodyguards killed Makati elderly get Christmas cash gifts Cardinal joins opposition to Con-ass Extra bonus for gov’t workers Yan, soldier, diplomat, peacemaker, dies News Manila sinking -- experts Yan, soldier, diplomat, peacemaker, dies Mom, 8-yr-old son killed at home Priest in ICU after alleged suicide try Cardinal joins opposition to Con-ass Who kidnapped Bentain and Mallilin? 8 teeners nabbed for videoke brawl US envoys asked to resign Arroyo inaugurates EDSA bus terminals Bolante ‘bubbly’--Senate security chief Moon, Venus, Jupiter form smiley SC affirms CA ruling vs PhilHealth   News Most Read RSS Hottest Tags Religions WHAT'S THIS?                 More >>

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI Monday called for those caring for the dying to be granted "death leave" even as he reaffirmed the Catholic church's strong opposition to active euthanasia.

Like maternity leave for couples having children, "similar rights should be accorded to close family members at the moment the illness of their loved ones is at a terminal phase," Pope Benedict said at a Vatican gathering on incurable illnesses.

He called on society to support families caring for the sick, arguing "a humane and interdependent society" could not do otherwise.

"A greater respect of individual human lives inevitably comes from real interdependence of everyone," the pontiff said, saying this was one of the greatest challenges of the moment.

Pope Benedict at the same time reiterated the "firm and consistent ethical condemnation for all forms of direct euthanasia."

• Bishops call for emergency meet on political crisis
• (UPDATE) Cardinal Rosales on Edsa: Change, do good
• Bishops call emergency meeting

• Thai airport back in business
• Obama mulls environment, energy posts
• Disgraced NY gov turns online scribe
• Lawmaker hangs up twice on Obama
• NASA delays Mars mission until 2011
• Bombers return to Fallujah, kill 15
• US envoys asked to resign
• 93 countries sign ban on cluster bombs
• ‘Bailout’ declared word of the year
• Cruise ship runs aground in Antarctica
• Bushes buy home in Dallas
• Israel eases Gaza blockade