All life is sacred - a gift from God. This is why the Church opposes abortion (ending life in the womb) and Euthanasia (ending life before natural death).
Instead the Church believes all life should be cherished at all times. The Church endorses practical initiatives to help those in need including better palliative care for the terminally ill, and support for mothers-to-be.
Earlier this year, a Private Members Bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Molly Meacher, Chair of Dignity in Dying. It has had its Second Reading with full debate in the House of Lords. The Bill is almost identical in form to the ‘Marris Bill’, which was overwhelmingly defeated by 330 votes to 118. In the House of Commons in 2015. None of the serious concerns raised at the time have been factored into this new piece of legislation.
In essence it permits an adult who is terminally ill (less than 6 months to live) to be assisted in ending their life, provided a declaration is signed by them, a witness, two doctors (one attending and one independent) and a Judge of the High Court Family Division has then consented to the request. Full details of the Bill can be found here.
Our main concerns with the Bill can be summarised as follows: Protecting the Most Vulnerable, The Experience of Other Countries and Investing in Care and Not Ending Care. Find out more.
In 2021, a Private Members Bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Molly Meacher, Chair of Dignity in Dying. It has had its second reading on 22 October and will pass to the Committee Stage.
Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
Encyclicals, Church Teachings and letters from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith all with a focus on End of Life Issues
What do we mean when we talk about 'dying well'? This is one of life's greatest questions.
Living and Dying Well researches and analyses the evidence surrounding the 'assisted dying' debate. Their aim is to present readers with reliable information on which to form their own views.
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues.
