Assisted Suicide Bill

During the past week our Parliament have been discussing a new Assisted Suicide Bill (they title it Assisted Dying). The possibility of individuals opting for a death to avoid long palliative care.  The Bishops of England and Wales have asked us to write to our MP’s expressing our strong concern of such a Bill being allowed to pass.  Follow the link to the Right to Life UK website which provides a suggested wording of a message of concern to write to our local MP, who for many of us is Helen Grant.  We are of course free to write our own letter. 

On the website of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, www.cbcew.org.uk Cardinal Vincent Nichols provides an excellent You Tube message expressing the deep concern of such a Bill being passed.  It is entitled ‘Be careful what you wish for’ and speaks of the slippery slope that such a passing of an act will lead to. There is also a copy of his Pastoral Letter that was produced for the last weekend.  A copy of this can also be found on the Church noticeboard.

Canon Liam’s letter to Helen Grant MP

Helen Grant MP
House of Commons
LONDON
SW1A 0AA

ASSISTED DYING BILL

Dear Helen,

During the past week I know that Parliament have been in discussion regarding a new Bill that has been introduced for legalising the choosing of death in certain circumstances, entitled ‘Assisted Dying’.  As Parish Priest of the large Catholic Community of your constituency of Maidstone, I must express my deepest concern of such a Bill ever being passed through.

Despite the title of the proposed Bill being called ‘Assisted Dying’ and that it will be argued as bringing a comforting and merciful way of ending a slow agonising death for some, I can only see this as being properly titled as ‘Assisted Suicide’.   We are starting to create a very judgmental society if we are prepared to decide that when people are at a stage of such poor health, their life is of no value or importance.  The Bill may suggest that only strict conditions will be in place to allow such personal decisions but there can be no doubt in my mind that we start a slippery slope and begin an easier option for choosing to die.  People reaching a stage of suffering and illness in their lives can become vulnerable, confused and fear that they are a burden on their family or the rest of the community.  We are blessed to have many members of our parish community who work in healthcare in various ways throughout Maidstone, including palliative care and there can be no disputing of their willingness to serve in all situations.  I know I can speak for them all to say they would never consider any patient in any condition to be a burden.   

What is really at the heart of our concern is that the passing of such a Bill will be an attack on the value of what it truly means to be human.  Suffering and illness is part of the human journey and must still be treated with human dignity.  To have the freedom for choosing to terminate a life simply because of suffering or terminal health is undermining that human dignity.

For the reasons above, I ask you in all earnest to please oppose such a Bill to be passed through

If there is any opportunity to meet and discuss this more I would only be too happy.

Yours sincerely

Rev. Canon Liam Gallagher