Written by Human life is fragile, and the Church teaches that each one of us is made in the image of God. The dignity of each human person, from conception to natural death, is central to Catholic social and moral teaching.
We think of our government as having responsibility for protecting us, keeping us safe, and ensuring that we are taken care of if we are sick, disabled or old. We think of the doctors, nurses and paramedics we encounter in hospital as healers, there to make us better, or to comfort and sustain us if that’s not possible.
On Wednesday 16th October Kim Leadbeater MP introduced a Bill in the House of Commons to permit assisted suicide [or assisted dying] for terminally ill people. The Second Reading of the Bill will be on Friday 29th November, and that is when MPs will vote on whether the Bill should continue its passage through Parliament.
Details of the Bill have not yet been published, but it is likely that it will mean that anyone who has six months or less to live will be able to ask for, and receive, a prescription of lethal drugs. Two doctors will be required to agree the request and a judge will be required to confirm it. The person making the request will have to be of sound mind, and capable of taking the drugs unaided.
Our bishops are asking us to contact our MPs to ask them to vote against this Bill.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/
There is a standard letter that you can use on the Right to Life UK website:
[Scroll down to the bottom of the page].
But it’s better to write your own letter if you can.
This article will be updated as details of the Bill become available.
Some useful sources of information and reflection:
Liz Carr’s documentary on disability and assisted dying: https://righttolife.org.uk/betteroffdead