The Catholic Bishops of Scotland told Members of the Scottish Parliament they had “taken the correct and responsible course of action” after they voted against legalising assisted suicide by a majority of 69 votes to 57. Source: The Tablet.
MSPs voted on the Assisted Dying Bill (Scotland) after an impassioned four-hour debate in the Scottish parliament prior to the final vote this week.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, the Bishops Conference of Scotland said: “MSPs can be confident that they have taken the correct and responsible course of action. Their vote serves to protect some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of being pressured into a premature death.”
The bishops added: “Every human life possesses inherent value. Genuine compassion is not expressed through ending a life, but through accompanying those who suffer and ensuring they receive the medical, emotional, and spiritual support that recognises their dignity. No life is without worth.”
They observed: “As a society, our responsibility is not to address suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround each person with care, respect, and dignity until their natural end. Today’s decision moves Scotland further in that direction, and MSPs should be commended for this.”
“However, we must continue to make progress. Our next priority must be to strengthen palliative care by ensuring that it is properly funded and accessible to all who require it.”
The vote marked the third time Scotland has debated the principle of assisted dying.
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Scottish Parliament votes against Assisted Dying Bill (By Bess Twiston Davies, The Tablet)
