A Private Members' Bill has been reintroduced to parliament seeking to legalise assisted suicide - the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. There will be a crucial vote on Friday, 11 September. Please contact your MP to make your voice heard to oppose this Bill.
A Private Members’ Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – has been reintroduced to the House of Commons. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11 September 2026.
Our clear principled objection to this Bill remains and we renew our call for Catholics and people of goodwill to unite in prayer and compassionate action. Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, explains our strong opposition to this legislation:
“The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide has returned to the House of Commons, and Members of Parliament will vote on its Second Reading on 11 September. This bill is wrong in principle. It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives.
“The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate.
“I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”
You can support the Archbishop’s call and contact your MP now as a matter of urgency. Even if you have already done so in the past, please speak up and 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 enter your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop this flawed Bill progressing through parliament.
If you have issues with this online form you can contact your MP via the Right to Life UK website.
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.
You can use or adapt this suggested text for parish newsletters:
Please contact your MP to oppose assisted suicide
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is back in the House of Commons and seeks to legalise assisted suicide. It will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11 September 2026. Please write to your MP to make your voice heard and oppose the Bill.
“This bill is wrong in principle,” says Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, “It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives. The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate. I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”
You can support the Archbishop’s call and contact your MP now as a matter of urgency. Even if you have already done so in the past, please speak up and 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 enter your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop this flawed Bill progressing through parliament.
For more information and resources, visit:
cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide
STATEMENT- JUNE 2026
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, made a statement as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill returns to parliament by way of a Private Members’ Bill. Read more.
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, then-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.
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 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.
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.
PODCAST
Matt Parkes explained how his father decided against killing himself when he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease, allowing beautiful moments of reconciliation between a family that had encountered many challenges.
DOCUMENTARY
“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
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.
Archbishop John Wilson calls on us to join him this May, the 'Month of Mary', in praying for an end to abortion, for peace, for people with disabilities, the elderly and the vulnerable.
Some frequently asked questions on Assisted Suicide and why the Church has always been against euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Our written evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry into Assisted Suicide, submitted in January 2023, offers ten clear reasons to oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Healthcare professionals, bioethicists and a lawyer address the flaws and inherent dangers in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Encyclicals, Church Teachings and letters from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith all with a focus on End of Life Issues
The Catholic Medical Association (CMA), has released its position statement on the bill passing through parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide.
