
Adobe Stock
CV NEWS FEED // In a statement strongly opposing the pro-assisted suicide bill that just received its first approval in the United Kingdom Parliament, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales are urging the faithful to pray that members of Parliament (MPs) will reject the bill at their next opportunity to do so.
“We are disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progressing through parliament,” Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, stated Nov. 29, the day Parliament first approved the bill in a vote of 330 – 275, with 45 abstaining. MPs had just five hours to debate the bill at the second reading.
Highlighting the possibility that the bill could still be defeated, Bishop Sherrington also called on Catholics “to pray that members of parliament will have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage in its progress.”
BBC reported over the weekend that because the second reading has concluded, a smaller group of MPs will next examine the bill “line by line.” After this, all MPs will have the ability to propose, later debate, and vote on amendments to the bill.
Later there will be a third reading, where MPs will vote on the bill for the last time.
If the bill passes this vote, it would go to the second chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords, where it would be subjected to the same five steps. The last phase would be sending the bill to the King for his approval.
Right to Life UK posted to its X account Dec. 1 that an analysis from the publication The Independent “shows there is a clear path” to defeating the bill at the MPs’ third reading.
“At least 36 MPs who supported the Bill made it clear they did so only to allow further debate / have concerns that mean they won’t commit to support[ing] the Bill at 3rd Reading,” Right to Life UK stated. “With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it’s defeated at 3rd Reading.”
Bishop Sherrington also stated that the bishops are opposed to the bill as a matter of principle — the Church teaches that assisted suicide and euthanasia are grave evils — and pointed out that there are certain clauses in the bill’s text that are especially alarming.
Certain clauses “prevent doctors from properly exercising conscientious objection, provide inadequate protection to hospices and care homes that do not wish to participate in assisted suicide and allow doctors to initiate conversations about assisted suicide,” Bishop Sherrington stated. “We ask that these voices be heard in the next stages of the Bill to strengthen the deep concerns about this proposed legislation.”
>> UK Catholic Medical Association urges Parliament: oppose pro-assisted suicide bill <<
The best approach to supporting those who are suffering and terminally ill is enhancing palliative care and its accessibility, Bishop Sherrington said. He reiterated the bishops’ message that true compassion is essential to accompanying those who are suffering or nearing the end of life.
“The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate society,” Bishop Sherrington said. “It is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.”
