When a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through parliament in September 2024, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Archbishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action.

That call is renewed now as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, has passed through the House of Commons and is now with the House of Lords. The Second Reading in the House of Lords is on the 12 September.

Our principled objection to the Bill remains irrespective of the result of the Third Reading in the House of Commons. The House of Lords has a responsibility to scrutinise the Bill in depth and reject it if necessary. The Bill could also end up back in the House of Commons.

Contact a Peer in the House of Lords

Unlike MPs, Members of the House of Lords do not have constituents, meaning there is not a Peer whose job it is to represent you based on the area of the country in which you live.

For this reason you should take some time to think about which Peer you will write to and why, such as whether you have a personal or professional connection with them, or you have professional expertise in medicine or healthcare.

We have provided full guidance to help you write to a Peer.

Statements and Messages

_{STATEMENT- JUNE 2025}
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, made a statement on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ahead of its Third Reading in the House of Commons. Read more.

_{INTERVIEW – MARCH 2025}
In March 2025, Archbishop Sherrington explained our objection to the proposed legislation seeking to legalise assisted suicide. Read more.

_{STATEMENT- NOVEMBER 2024}
In November 2024, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, wrote a pastoral letter that called on Catholics to play an active role in opposing assisted suicide. Cardinal Nichols offered three key points for Catholics to be aware of, and called on the faithful to be fully engaged in the debate and to take action to oppose assisted suicide being rushed into law. Read more.

Pray

We are a praying Christian community and, as Archbishop 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. “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… I also urge all Catholics to become better informed about the serious problems associated with the legalisation of assisted suicide.

Parish Posters

This easy-to-print A4 poster can be displayed in your parish. It has a scannable QR code that 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.

Further Resources

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:

_BOOKLET
Not dead Yet UK have produced a Call to Action campaign booklet titled ‘Kill The Bill’ 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’S PODCAST}
You can also listen to our podcast with Archbishop Sherrington. Recorded on 7 March 2025 just as Committee Stage was completed.

_{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 provision and quality 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.