Bishop Timothy Menezes, an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has called attention to the threat which assisted suicide poses not just to the elderly, but to all vulnerable people.
In a video message, Bishop Menezes shares the concerns of a young parishioner with disabilities:
“A young man spoke to me after Mass and he said, ‘Thank you for mentioning assisted dying. As a disabled young person myself, we feel very vulnerable. It is as though our life is not as valuable as others.’
“What really struck me about the sadness of a young person saying this is that perhaps we think of assisted dying as to do with elderly people, but it’s not just that. People are already making quality judgments about a potential disability of an unborn child.”
Human life should be valued at all stages, from conception to natural death. Assisted suicide poses a direct threat to the dignity of life and risks placing vulnerable people under pressure to end their life prematurely.
Bishop Menezes shared his experience of accompanying the dying and their families:
“Not so long ago, when I was a parish priest, I was on call for the local hospital, and I was called out three times in one night, twice to the hospital and once to the local hospice.
“It was a privilege to be with those people, all of them end-of-life patients, and their families, at very precious moments. I sensed that they would not have wanted a single one of those last moments of life for their loved one take taken away.”
Bishop Menezes urged Catholics to contact their MPs, especially on behalf of those who are vulnerable, to raise these concerns and ask them to oppose this dangerous legislation.
“At every stage of life, and especially its fragile beginning and end, let us make our voices heard. Do not assume everybody else is doing it, because those who are most vulnerable do not have the voice. Let us be their voice.”
Suggested parish newsletter text, resources such as A4 printable posters with QR codes and more can be found by visiting our dedicated section ‘Oppose Assisted Suicide’ on the Bishops’ Conference website.
You can also use this form to contact your MP to ask that they oppose assisted suicide on Friday, 11 September. Any issues with this form, please visit the Right to Life UK website.
