An English archbishop has called on Catholics to write to members of the House of Lords to urge them to oppose an assisted suicide bill which could trigger the closure of church-run hospices and care homes. Source: Catholic Review.
Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, the lead bishop for life issues of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, made his plea ahead of a September 12 vote at the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
In a statement posted on Monday on the bishops’ conference website, Archbishop Sherrington said it was urgent that Catholics contacted members of the Lords, or peers, to raise their objections before the vote in Britain’s second political chamber.
The bishops wished to reiterate their “firm opposition” to the bill, said the archbishop, because it “puts the safety of our healthcare institutions, professionals, and patients at risk”.
He said that “there is a real danger that some care homes and hospices may be forced to significantly limit or even fully withdraw their services”.
“I urge you to contact members of the House of Lords and in particular share your personal or professional experience on this important matter,” the archbishop said.
In his statement, Archbishop Sherrington also warned Catholics that an assisted suicide law would undermine the provision of palliative care and that “where such provision is absent, individuals will inevitably feel pressured to end their lives”.
He also said the bill contained a conscience clause that was inadequate because it obliged any doctor who refused to be assisted in a suicide to refer patients to doctors who would grant them access to lethal drugs.
“Many doctors will effectively be unable to opt out of cooperating with the procedure, because of the duty to direct patients to information and to where they can have a preliminary discussion,” he continued. “This bill puts the lives of vulnerable patients at risk due to inadequate safeguards against coercion.”
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English archbishop warns legalising assisted suicide could close church-run hospices (By Simon Caldwell, OSV News via Catholic Review)
