Legislation is passing through parliament seeking to legalise assisted suicide. Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted suicide, is fast approaching its decisive vote in the House of Commons which will likely take place on either the 13 or 20 of June.
Also in Life Issues
Abortion Decriminalisation > Day for Life > FAQs on assisted suicide > Opposing Assisted Suicide > Assisted Dying Inquiry 2023 > Church Teaching > Hospice > Prayers - Serious Illness > Art of Dying Well > Anscombe Bioethics Centre > Living and Dying Well > APPG for Dying Well > Assisted Dying Bill > World Day of the Sick > More... >In early September 2024, when parliament returned and a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through the House of Lords, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Archbishop-elect John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action.
That call is renewed now, urgently, as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, has passed through Second Reading and is now at Report Stage, which started on Friday, 16 May. The Third Reading and vote is likely to take place on Friday, 13 June or 20 June, at which time a decision will be made on whether to legalise assisted suicide and make this Bill law.
We need you to contact your MP now – even if you have already done so in the past – to voice your opposition.
The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to do this. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law.
Click here to contact your MP via the Right to Life UK website.
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has made a statement as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted suicide, is fast approaching its decisive vote in the House of Commons which will likely take place on either the 13 or 20 of June. Read more.
Archbishop-elect John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues here at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, explains our objection to the proposed legislation passing through parliament seeking to legalise assisted suicide. Bishop Sherrington insists all is not lost and that there’s still time to contact your MP to ask them to stop assisted suicide becoming law. Read more.
We are a praying Christian community and, as Archbishop-elect Sherrington says, the legalisation of assisted suicide undermines the sanctity and dignity of human life. “The Catholic Church accompanies those suffering and nearing the end of their lives with hope and affection, but also reminds them that their life is precious until the very last breath,” he says. “In preparation for these challenging debates, let us offer our prayers for those facing the end of their lives, that they may receive the care and support they need to live their final days with respect for their dignity.
“Let us also pray for our politicians and our country that wisdom and compassion may guide their decisions. I also urge all Catholics to become better informed about the serious problems associated with the legalisation of assisted suicide.
These easy-to-print A4 posters can be displayed in your parish. They are very similar but have scannable QR codes that link to two different places.
This first poster, below, links to the Right to Life UK website. It provides a simple digital form and suggested letter that helps Catholics contact their MP to ask them to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law.
The second poster links to this page on the Bishops’ Conference website where you will find resources laying out the Catholic position on assisted suicide, and what you can do to stop its legalisation.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, has written a pastoral letter calling on Catholics to play an active role in opposing assisted suicide. Cardinal Nichols offers three key points for Catholics to be aware of, and calls on the faithful to be fully engaged in the debate and to write to their MP to oppose assisted suicide being rushed into law. Read more.
The Bishops’ Conference has also compiled a list of resources to help you stay informed about the issue and inform others about the dangers of assisted suicide:
CALL TO ACTION
Not dead Yet UK have produced a Call to Action campaign booklet titled ‘Kill The Bill’. The Campaign is about The Terminally ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
REASONS
Ten reasons to oppose assisted suicide
QUESTIONS
FAQs on assisted suicide
DAY FOR LIFE
Day for Life resources on end-of-life care
ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT BILL
CBCEW submitted evidence to the Bill Committee call, which explains why the bill is unworkable. You can read the full submission here.
HOSPICE CARE
The content in our Hospice section explains how hospices work and demonstrates why they are the jewel in the crown when it comes to palliative and end of life care.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Anscombe Bioethics Centre has produced resources on assisted dying and euthanasia.
KNOWLEDGE
Right to Life UK Knowledge base on assisted suicide and euthanasia and the End of Life Bill website, which includes latest news, expert legal opinion and comprehensive analysis on the bill.
COERCIVE CONTROL
Read the article by Nikki Dhillon Keane on how legalising assisted suicide can reduce protection for victims of domestic abuse and coercive control.
PODCASTS
Matt Parkes explained how his father decided against killing himself when he got diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease, allowing beautiful moments of reconciliation between a family that had had many struggles.
ARCHBISHOP-ELECT’S PODCAST
You can also listen to our podcast with Archbishop-elect Sherrington, recorded just as Committee Stage was completed. He insists there’s still time to contact your MP to ask them to stop assisted suicide becoming law.
DOCUMENTARIES
“Do No Harm” is a short documentary which highlights some of the grave concerns around proposals to legalise assisted dying in the UK and Scottish Parliaments.
FILM
Why not?, a group of healthcare, ethical and legal experts, explain their opposition to the bill seeking to make assisted suicide law in this 26-minute film.
LAW
Legislation on Assisted Dying: A Slippery Slope?
This document offers a useful summary of the law in the UK, proposals to change the legislation, and compares UK law to that of other countries.
2024 POLL
Results of a July 2024 poll revealing the majority of the British public opposes the implementation of assisted dying
ARTICLE
An article revealing the Health Secretary does not believe the State of end-of-life care in the UK allows for assisted dying to be implemented safely
DAY FOR LIFE
Day for Life resources on end-of-life care
SELECT COMMITTEE
Summary of the written evidence given by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to the Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry.
Healthcare professionals, bioethicists and a lawyer address the flaws and inherent dangers in Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Dying Bill.
The Catholic Medical Association (CMA), has released its position statement on the bill passing through parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide.
