Cardinal calls on Catholics to take action to oppose assisted suicide
Faith Matters / Wed 16th Oct 2024 at 07:15am
HARLOW’S Catholic community has been urged to write to their MP over the question of assisted dying.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Westminster, has issued a pastoral letter on assisted suicide that was read in the churches of his diocese on the weekend of 12-13 October.
Referring to a private members’ bill on assisted suicide that will be introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, the Cardinal offers three key points for Catholics to be aware of, and calls on the faithful to be fully engaged in the debate and to write to their MP to oppose assisted suicide being rushed into law.
“The evidence from every single country in which such a law has been passed is clear,” says Cardinal Nichols. “That the circumstances in which the taking of a life is permitted are widened and widened, making assisted suicide and medical killing, or euthanasia, more and more available and accepted.”
Be careful what you wish for, he says: “This proposed change in the law may be a source of relief to some. But it will bring great fear and trepidation to many, especially those who have vulnerabilities and those living with disabilities. What is now proposed will not be the end of the story. It is a story better not begun.”
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David
2024-10-16 09:40:56
There are so many questions around this topic. It really must be thoroughly thought out before anyone thinks about any changes to the law in this country.
Seamus
2024-10-16 16:32:16
Given the amount of religious wars throughout history and the hundreds of millions that have died in faith wars, the amount of people wishing to use their personal right end their suffering from a slow death, will come nowhere close in numbers.
Guy Flegman
2024-10-16 16:41:09
Regardless of your opinion on this I would recommend everyone takes the time to read about how assisted suicide has panned out in Canada.
Tommy
2024-10-16 18:21:51
I don’t think this is a subject matter for an angry rant, so I recommend that anyone, before looking towards Cardinal Vincent Nichols for pastoral guidance, should Google the bloke and see how the IICSA report into Child sexual abuse in the Catholic church accused him of protecting the reputation of the Church rather than protecting victims and that he lacked compassion towards victims. There are so many good people out there who have concerns about Assisted Dying - People like Sir Ed Davey MP - Listen to them when considering the topic, not Cardinal Nichols. We can’t be dogmatic about this.
AB
2024-10-17 06:26:46
Thus serious matter needs rational debate, not the input of superstition. Look where's that has got the middle east yet again.
David Forman
2024-10-18 12:02:36
Tommy is correct about Cardinal Nichols. The Report of the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse from October 2022 says on page 282, paragraph 12.1: 'In November 2018, Cardinal Nichols apologised for the Church’s failings, stating it was a source of “great sorrow and shame for me and, indeed, I know for the Catholic Church”, but there was no acknowledgement of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change.' See report at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/31216/download/report-independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-abuse-october-2022_0.pdf
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