An excellent letter on euthanasia from a Bishop...
... and do we need megaphones for street evangelism?
I’m extremely grateful to all the people who are working hard to try to prevent the disaster that is the proposed legislation to introduce assisted suicide to this country. Opinions of clergy doesn’t always attract as much media interest these days, but the Catholic Bishop of Leeds wrote a great pastoral letter on the Bill which was read out in all his parishes last weekend. It is well worth a read and provides a helpful model for writing to our MPs. I have pasted some of the important parts below.
The third vote is due towards the end of April, and so now is a great time to start praying and petitioning God, as well as writing to our MPs once more. As someone who has worked with the elderly, the terminally ill and the mentally ill - I plead with you to pray and take action. This Bill would be an absolute disaster for these vulnerable groups. May God have mercy on this country.
From billboards and megaphones, to friendly faces…
I went to visit a very nice group of women in March in Hull, who have been faithfully going out onto the streets, rain or shine, for the past decade, smiling, offering prayer and conversations about faith. They have a very friendly and non-confrontational approach. I wrote about this gentle style of street evangelism, along with some reflections from my own experiences in mission, for the Catholic Herald.
Extracts from Bishop Marcus Stock’s pastoral letter
In summary, the letter asks all those in his Diocese to write to their MP again. However it has application to all, and offers some great points to raise in a letter, as well as a link to an easy tool from a campaigning organisation at the end.
Although a majority of MPs voted to allow the Bill to proceed to its next stage [on 29th November], it is clear that many of them did so only to allow further debate. I wish therefore to speak with you again today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through this Bill. As I have made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming into being as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill out of a concern for the good of every person in society, the protection in law of all people, especially those who are at their most vulnerable, and the spiritual and pastoral care of the sick and dying…
There are serious reasons for [asking your MP to vote against the Bill]. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. It is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which they have not properly scrutinised and which, as a result, will have damaging consequences. The Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, and within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was also minimal. Not all voices were heard: the Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence, comprising an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered:
Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced, the current scope is wider than was originally intended.
What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all.
What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family?
Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary, palliative care specialists, and medical ethicists have warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS – not least in end-of-life care?
Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide?
In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is the highest quality, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should end their life – or have their life ended - because they feel they are a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence…
It is now clear that this measure is being rushed through, without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences. Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen…
In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’. We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times. May God bless you all.
The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to help you contact your MP. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. Go to the Right to Life UK website:
https://righttolife.org.uk
