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The Catholic
Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland have issued a statement on Assisted
Suicide ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)
Bill.
In it,
the bishops explain exactly what ‘compassion’ means at the end of life – caring
for and accompanying people, particularly during times of suffering.
The
statement strongly defends the vulnerable in society who are at risk through
this proposed legislation, and the bishops advocate for better funded
palliative care to be consistently available to everyone in need in England,
Wales, and Scotland.
“People
who are suffering need to know they are loved and valued. They need compassionate
care, not assistance to end their lives,” say the bishops. “Palliative care,
with expert pain relief, and good human, spiritual, and pastoral support, is
the right and best way to care for people towards the end of life.”
They
also assert that assisted suicide raises serious issues of principle that
cannot be ignored:
“The
time given for Parliament to consider the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)
Bill, which will permit assisted suicide is woefully inadequate. Although the
Bill indicates safeguards will be in place, the experience of other countries
where assisted suicide has been introduced shows that such promised safeguards
are soon forgotten. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and parts of the USA,
the criteria for assisted suicide have been expanded significantly, in law or
in practice, often to include people with mental illness and others who have no
terminal diagnosis.”
The
bishops affirm the Catholic belief in human dignity and sanctity of life, but
fear that a law that allows for assisted suicide could lead some to experience
‘a duty to die’:
“Some
may well feel their continued existence is a burden to others, and, implicitly
or explicitly, be pressured into assisted suicide. This includes people who are
elderly, infirm, and living with disabilities. The protection of such people is
the foundation of civilised society. It is at the heart of good government.”
The
bishops also express their concern that this Bill will fundamentally damage the
relationship between medical staff and their patients. They fear it could lead
to pressure on medical practitioners to recommend or facilitate such
procedures:
“The
impact on hospices, care homes, and those who work in social and community care
cannot be underestimated. It will radically alter the ethos of trust and
support which underpins our service to those in need and their families.”
Finally,
two weeks ahead of the debate and vote in parliament, the bishops urge
Catholics and those who share our belief in the dignity and value of every
human life, to contact their
local MP https://righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat
to make their opposition known, asking him or her to oppose or not
support the Bill.
Many
bishops have issued pastoral letters on assisted suicide (https://www.cbcew.org.uk/category/cbcew/life-issues/assisted-suicide/).
You can find those promulgated by the Bishops of England and Wales at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/category/cbcew/life-issues/assisted-suicide/
alongside all our digital content on assisted suicide.
Full
statement
Be
compassionate
As
Catholic Bishops in England and Wales, and in Scotland, we believe that genuine
compassion is under threat because of the attempts in Parliament to legalise
assisted suicide. ‘Compassion’ means to enter into and share the suffering of
another person. It means never giving up on anyone or abandoning them. It means
loving them to the natural end of their life, even if and when they struggle to
find meaning and purpose. Compassion means accompanying people, especially
during sickness, disability, and old age. This kind of genuine compassion is
witnessed through the care and respect we show to people with terminal illness
as they complete their journey in this life.
We
appeal to those who share our Catholic belief in human dignity and sanctity of
life, including fellow Christians, other religious people, and people of reason
and good will, to join with us in defending the weakest and most vulnerable who
are at risk through this proposed legislation.
Life
is a gift to be protected, especially when threatened by sickness and death.
Palliative care, with expert pain relief, and good human, spiritual, and
pastoral support, is the right and best way to care for people towards the end
of life. More adequate funding and resources for hospices and palliative care
teams authentically serve and honour our shared human dignity. In the
discussion around assisted suicide, so much is made of freedom of choice and
autonomy; but autonomy is not absolute and must always be placed within the
context of the common good of society as a whole. People who are suffering need
to know they are loved and valued. They need compassionate care, not assistance
to end their lives.
Assisted
suicide raises serious issues of principle. The time given for Parliament to
consider the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will permit
assisted suicide is woefully inadequate. Although the Bill indicates safeguards
will be in place, the experience of other countries where assisted suicide has
been introduced shows that such promised safeguards are soon forgotten. In
Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and parts of the USA, the criteria for
assisted suicide have been expanded significantly, in law or in practice, often
to include people with mental illness and others who have no terminal diagnosis.
It is not always easy to predict the length of time a person with a terminal
illness has to live, making this Bill unworkable.
We are
alarmed by the impact that legalisation will have on the most vulnerable
members of our society. The option to end life can quickly, and subtly, be
experienced as a duty to die. Some may well feel their continued existence is a
burden to others, and, implicitly or explicitly, be pressured into assisted
suicide. This includes people who are elderly, infirm, and living with disabilities.
The protection of such people is the foundation of civilised society. It is at
the heart of good government.
We are
also concerned that this Bill will fundamentally damage the relationship
between medical practitioners and their patients. It will potentially lead to
pressure on medical staff to recommend or facilitate such procedures. Will the
right to conscientious objection for individuals and institutions be
guaranteed? The impact on hospices, care homes, and those who work in social
and community care cannot be underestimated. It will radically alter the ethos
of trust and support which underpins our service to those in need and their
families.
We
urge all people of good will to oppose this legislation and, instead, to
advocate for better funded palliative care which is consistently available to
everyone in need in England, Wales, and Scotland. Please inform yourself and
others about this issue and contact your Member of Parliament to make your
opposition known, asking him or her to oppose or not support the Bill.
As
Catholic Bishops, we call upon all Catholics, and invite all those who share
our Christian faith, to turn in prayer to God our Father. Please pray that the
dignity of human life will be protected and defended. On the cross, Christ united
Himself to every form of human suffering and every person who suffers. In Him,
life is changed, not ended. He shows us, in His own crucified and risen body,
that love is always stronger than death.
You
can also download this statement:
Bishops’
Statement on Assisted Suicide – Nov24
Source:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-statement-assisted-suicide-nov24/
Contact:
You can contact the communications team by emailing
communications@cbcew.org.uk or by
calling 020 7901 4800.
Retreat
The Divine Mercy
Apostolate, London is holding a Divine Mercy Lenten Retreat on Saturday 30 November 2024 from 1:30 pm
- 4:30 pm at St Scholastica 17
Kenninghall Road Clapton London E5 8BS
The Retreat will
include teachings on the Message of Mercy, Stations of the Cross, Holy Mass,
Hour of Mercy with Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the
Image of Merciful Jesus. All Welcome. Please call millie on 07957594646 for
more information
Pope Francis' latest Encyclical
Pope Francis’ new Encyclical, Dilexit
Nos – ‘He Loved Us’ – can be
accessed and downloaded here.
‘The world
is in the midst of significant global crises – grappling with conflicts, deep
social and economic inequalities, unchecked consumerism, and technologies that
pose risks to human dignity. In this encyclical, Pope Francis seeks to inspire
a shift in perspective, encouraging humanity to reconnect with what truly
matters – the heart.’ (Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales)
Assisted Suicide
Kim
Leadbeater MP is introducing a bill to introduce assisted suicide, which will
be voted on by MPs on the 29 November. We know that assisted suicide
laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor,
disabled and marginalised. This is the biggest threat to the vulnerable in a
decade, and we need a huge effort to lobby MPs. Please contact your MP by
visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk
Retreat
Be Still and Know that I am God, 21st – 24th
November 2024
Join Fr Roger Dawson, SJ, for this retreat exploring the
human condition with practices common to mindfulness and to Christian
contemplative prayer. The retreat will seek to reclaim those practices that
share common ground with the tradition of apophatic prayer and theology rooted
in the monastic and the Eastern Orthodox traditions. For more information and
to register:
https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god/
