A bishop has warned that legalising assisted dying would be like welcoming Nazi “ideology” while a Catholic medic has called for improved palliative care.
Bishop of Portsmouth Philip Egan, an outspoken opponent of euthanasia, wrote a pastoral letter entitled “Thou shalt Not Kill” which was read out in churches last weekend across the Diocese of Portsmouth.
Bishop Egan wrote: “To permit killing is wrong. It would be a shift of historic significance. It would be to capitulate to the very ideology Britain fought against in the Second World War.”
MPs will debate Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 29 November, and Bishop Egan warned of the consequences of legalising assisted dying. “‘Thou Shalt not Kill’ is an instinctive principle written into every human heart. It grounds the laws that govern every civilised society on earth,” he wrote.
“If we yield to [assisted dying] and permit killing, we will cross a line from which there is no return. Like using nuclear weapons, once deployed, it’s too late: there’s only escalation.”
Last week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would vote against the Leadbeater Bill due to concerns over the poor state of palliative care. Catholic medic Dermot Kearney also called for greater investment and improvements in palliative care.
Dr Kearney told The Tablet: “Rather than attempting to introduce a change in the law to allow some patients to kill themselves or to be killed by others, surely we should aim to alleviate suffering by attempting to improve and expand the palliative care and hospice services that are already in existence but have been severely underfunded for so long.”
He also dismissed the safeguards promised by Kim Leadbeater, such as needing two doctors and a judge to approve an assisted dying case.
“There would be no difficulty finding two doctors and a judge with little or no respect for the value of human life,” Kearney said. “It would not be long before individuals or lobby groups would challenge any restrictions on the grounds of discrimination.”
Catholics have been urged by the bishops of England and Wales to write to MPs and pray. A sample letter, posters for parishes and prayer resources are available on the bishops’ conference website.
Bishop John Sherrington, the lead bishop for life issues, warned 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 added: “In preparation for these challenging debates, 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.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the bishops’ conference, has written a pastoral letter calling on Catholics to play an active role in opposing assisted suicide. Bishop Patrick McKinney also wrote a pastoral letter in Nottingham.
The Catholic Union urged its supporters to lobby MPs, who will have a free vote on the issue.
Catholic Union President Baroness Hollins said: “This bill is likely to be concerning on several levels but especially in this attempt to move doctors out of their primary duty to care for patients and towards participation in what will soon, if the bill is passed, become a new UK business sector of euthanasia provision.” She highlighted that research in Europe shows that disabled and other marginalised people can be most at risk.
In Wales, Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff-Menevia welcomed Senedd members’ refusal in a free vote to back calls for the law around assisted dying in England and Wales to be changed.
The motion on 23 October had called on the Welsh Government to both support the principle of assisted dying and support Westminster to “introduce a compassionate assisted dying law in England and Wales”. The voting record shows current First Minister Eluned Morgan and her health minister Jeremy Miles both voted against.
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