CATAL, JURA — In a sweeping theological declaration issued this week, the Jury of Bishops—the nine-member spiritual council of the Tethuric Church—has decreed that acts of cannibalism conducted with prior consent are no longer to be considered sinful under Church law, and therefore should not be criminalized by secular governments.
The decree, titled On the Sanctity of Sovereign Flesh, states:
“When one gives their flesh willingly, and with full knowledge of its intended use, such offering shall not be deemed profane. The air of Teu remains within, even in death. To consume with reverence is no desecration, but a final act of unity.”
While the Church “highly recommends that such acts be carried out in a ceremonial and dignified manner befitting the Trine,” it clarified that ceremony is not required for the act to be spiritually valid. Consent, it claims, is the sole moral prerequisite.
The decision comes amid growing food shortages in the Verge regions, where famine and resource scarcity have led to isolated incidents of survival cannibalism. In a statement, the Archcleric of Catal said, “The Church must meet the needs of the living, not merely mourn the dead. If a man wills that his death nourish his kin, who are we to call that evil?”
Critics, however, warn that the ruling opens the door to abuse and legal ambiguity. “What’s to stop someone from producing a forged consent scroll after the fact?” asked Magistrate Ilten of Everwind City. “We are already stretched thin trying to prosecute murders. Now we’re expected to determine whether someone wanted to be eaten?”
Others express concern that the move is more political than pastoral—a power play by the Church to challenge civil authority. “They are undercutting secular law under the guise of mercy,” said Dal Venner, a barrister and longtime critic of ecclesiastical influence. “This isn’t about famine. This is about dominion.”
The Church denies these claims, insisting the decree is “a reflection of divine compassion.” However, several noble houses, particularly in the Eastern Marches, have issued statements rejecting the ruling’s legitimacy in civil courts.
Despite the backlash, reports suggest that a handful of temples—especially in rural Lothlan and Clavermark—have already begun accepting “Living Wills of Transubstantial Donation” from elderly or terminally ill adherents.
Whether these documents hold up in court remains to be seen.
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