Parishioners are invited to collect a copy at the Cathedral entrance of a Joint Statement by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, issuing a united call for compassionate action to oppose the Bill on assisted suicide.
The Bishops urge Catholics and all who share our belief in the sanctity and value of every human life to contact their local MP, expressing their opposition and requesting that they either oppose or abstain from supporting the Bill.
Assisted Suicide Statement
Following the 2024 Autumn Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, which has just concluded today in Leeds; the Catholic Bishops of England, Wales, along with their brother bishops in Scotland, have issued a united call for compassionate action to oppose the Bill on assisted suicide. In a joint statement on Assisted Suicide ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, the bishops have emphasised that true compassion involves caring for and accompanying people through suffering. In the statement, they defend the vulnerable at risk from this legislation, advocate for better-funded palliative care, and express concerns that such a law could lead to a perceived “duty to die” and damage the relationship between medical staff and patients.
With only two weeks remaining until the parliamentary debate and vote, the bishops urge Catholics and all who share our belief in the sanctity and value of every human life to contact their local MP, expressing their opposition and requesting that they either oppose or abstain from supporting the Bill.
Some of Archbishop John’s statements and his pastoral message on Assisted Suicide may be found here:
Please act on assisted suicide, Archbishop Wilson urges
Archbishop urges support for the most vulnerable in light of the push for Assisted Suicide