Church leader blasts lawmaker’s plan for a new ‘national death service’

A prominent church leader in the United Kingdom is warning about a lawmaker’s plan for what essentially would be a “national death service,” the promotion of assisted suicide through the nation’s medical community.

“Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?” asked Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.His comments came in a letter urging Catholics to contact their lawmakers, even if they already have done that, to express opposition to a bill that would promote assisted suicide.

He wrote, “In contrast to the provisions of this bill, what is needed is first-class, 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 be dispatched as 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.”

He called Parliament’s priorities “sad” in that members spent more time debating a ban on fox hunting than they did “debating bringing in assisted suicide.”

“It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed bill with untold unintended consequences,” he said.

The letter, being read to church congregations through the country, said, “please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.”

Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, was addressing Parliament’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill.

He explained, “As Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.”

He pointed out the plan radically changes key relationships among family, doctors, patients and more.

“Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill.” And it was published only days before the first vote, so that members lacked time to consult or consider, he warned.