Faith leaders join to oppose Bill to legalise assisted suicide
Leaders of the major faiths have come together and issued a warning of the consequences should assisted suicide be approved by Parliament, in a letter published ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
MPs are due to vote next Friday (29th November) on Kim Leadbeater’s bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
The Bishop of London, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and the Chief Rabbi, lead signatories warning that a ‘right to die’ could ‘all too easily’ end in vulnerable people feeling they have a ‘duty to die.’
In Chichester, Bishop Will issued some guidance for people, saying “It’s not too late to do three things.”
1) Write to your MP
A sample letter may prove useful as a draft to those who would wish to urge their Member or Parliament to vote against the proposed legislation. Simply address it to your MP and send it from your own email address. (Sample letter)
2) Talk about it
Secondly, lets talk about it, in our church communities and beyond especially if that opens up a healthy conversation about death and dying.
3) Pray
We can continue to pray for the dying, especially those whose death may be lonely or painful. We can pray for those who care for them. We can pray for our MPs and all who will have to make such a complex and agonising decision. And we can pray for our nation, that we will continue to be a place that values the beauty and dignity of every human person made in the image and likeness of God.
You can read the full item on the Church of England’s website here