UK’s highest ranking Catholic urges flock to oppose assisted dying Bill

The UK’s highest ranking Catholic has urged his flock to write to their MPs to oppose proposed changes in assisted dying law.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will formally introduce a private member’s bill on the issue on October 16, with a debate and initial vote possible within weeks.

In a letter to be read out in the churches of his diocese, Cardinal Vincent Nichols warned Catholics to “be careful what you wish for”, adding that in countries where assisted dying has been legalised, the circumstances in which it is permitted have been “widened and widened”.

He said changing the law could result in those who are near to death feeling pressured to end their lives to relieve family members of a “perceived burden of care”, to avoid pain or “for the sake of inheritance”.

“The radical change in the law now being proposed risks bringing about for all medical professionals a slow change from a duty to care to a duty to kill,” he added.

The Archbishop of Westminster continued: “The suffering of a human being is not meaningless. It does not destroy that dignity.

“It is an intrinsic part of our human journey, a journey embraced by the eternal word of God, Christ Jesus himself.

“He brings our humanity to its full glory precisely through the gateway of suffering and death.”

Ms Leadbeater has said current assisted dying law is “not fit for purpose”, with campaigners branding it “unbelievably cruel”.

Those in favour of changing the legislation say people who are terminally ill or in severe pain should be allowed the choice to die with dignity and at a time of their choosing.

This will be the first time the topic has been debated in the House of Commons since 2015, when an assisted dying Bill was defeated.

Published: 10/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub