Bishop Peter Collins has called on every member of the Diocese of East Anglia to join him: “in exercising our responsibility to oppose this Bill and all that it represents and contact their members of Parliament in advance of the September 11 vote.”
Bishop Peter has called the reintroduction of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill a “watershed moment for our country”, and has called for greater resources to be directed towards palliative care services.
Andy Burnham was asked on Wednesday (July 29) whether he supports assisted dying after giving a speech on social care. He said that he was not opposed to this being debated, but continued: “Personally, I think there’s something that needs to happen first, and that’s the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care.
“I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having peace of mind about that care.”
In a video message, Bishop Peter said: “the Bill is fundamentally flawed, lacking adequate reflection and sufficient scrutiny.”
Among the several problematic issues identified in the draft legislation, Bishop Peter said: “The Bill leaves many matters unresolved regarding its practical application and its profound implications for those who are disabled or vulnerable.
“Rather than any consideration of assisted suicide, our society should surely be addressing the need to establish and resource a universal provision of palliative care across the country.”
The Catholic Church opposes the Bill in principle, but Bishop Peter reminds listeners that this is an issue which “necessarily concerns everyone”, not just Christians.
He urges people of all faiths and none to reflect on the promotion and defence of life, explaining that “although faith provides special light and strength, this question arises in every human conscience which seeks the truth and which cares about the future of humanity.”
Click here or see below to hear Bishop Peter’s video message in full.