We have to act now to stop assisted dying law, says Right to Life
There have been increasing reports in the news that the Government will support a Bill in Parliament to legalise assisted dying.
This threat to the sanctity of life requires action on our part to show we will not stand by as such an extreme law is rushed through.
Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark said in a Pastoral Letter on the subject in March 2024, that as “baptised followers of the Lord Jesus we must do all within our power to support the most vulnerable in our society, especially those who have no voice to speak for themselves.”.
In the letter, the Archbishop reminds us that “the Catholic Church believes and teaches that every life is valuable, regardless of one’s physical or mental state or ability. We are called to care for those who are suffering, not to bring about their death. We cannot approve of any form of euthanasia and assisted suicide.”
Reports in the news today (4th October) suggest that a Bill on the subject is set to be “rushed into law” and that MPs who were successful in the recent ‘Private Members’ Bill’ ballot in the House of Commons are being urged to bring forward legislation on this controversial issue.
This is very concerning and presents the biggest threat on this issue in nearly a decade. A Private Members’ Bill was the same mechanism used in Parliament to legalise abortion in 1967 and it appears Keir Starmer wishes to use a similar tactic to implement his personal desire for assisted suicide also to become legal.
Although he has promised parliamentary time for the issue, the Prime Minister had previously indicated that such legislation was unlikely to be brought forward in the first year of a Labour government. It seems he has had a change of heart, however. Speaking to the BBC this morning in response to a question about the wishes of the terminally ill TV celebrity Dame Esther Rantzen, the Prime Minister said: “I made a promise to Esther Rantzen before the election that we would provide time for a debate and a vote on assisted dying … I’m very pleased” that I’m able to “make good” on that promise.”
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is putting forward the bill to be debated later this month and said “now is the time” to hold a fresh debate on assisted dying, after MPs rejected a bill on the issue in 2015.
The details have not been finalised but the bill is likely to be similar to a proposal in the House of Lords, which would allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live to get medical help to end their own lives.
The bill is expected to be formally introduced on 16 October, with a debate and initial vote likely to take place later this year. It would have to be approved by MPs and peers before it becomes law.
Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man are also considering changes to the law.
“It is vital we do all we can to prevent a Private Members’ Bill on assisted suicide being rushed forward at this time before hundreds of new MPs have had a chance to properly hear the arguments against legalisation and about the problems that have arisen in other countries where it is legal,” said campaing group Right to Life.
“It’s now crucial that all MPs and the Government urgently see that there is a large number of voters in each constituency who don’t want an extreme change to our laws that would see the ending of many lives through assisted suicide.”
Right to Life are asking members of the public to lobby their MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. This can be done by completing an online action form of the Right to Life website.