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The most important Catholic in the United Kingdom called on the faithful to lobby their deputies to vote against the proposed law on assisted dying.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, issued a pastoral letter warning congregations across his diocese: “Be careful what you wish for.”
This comes after Labor MP Kim Leadbeater said her bill on the issue will be tabled in Parliament this week and will have its first debate in the House of Commons next month. This will be the first time in almost a decade that deputies will debate and vote on the controversial topic.
Sir Keir Starmer promised Labor members a free vote, honoring a commitment he made to Dame Ester Ranzen, the terminally ill founder of Childline.
Dame Esther, 84, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year and has since revealed she has joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols (pictured), Archbishop of Westminster, has issued a pastoral letter warning congregations in his diocese: “Be careful what you wish for”
Activists in support of voluntary euthanasia protest outside Parliament in Westminster, London
An undated leaflet from 'The Last Resort', a group of assisted dying people, from a suicide pod
Protesters, including Humanists UK members and supporters, during a protest outside the Houses of Parliament
Cardinal Nichols said last week on X, formerly Twitter, that “the right to die can quickly become a duty to die.”
She labeled current UK legislation “cruel” and warned that without changes she and others could face a “grievous death”.
But Cardinal Nichols said last week on X, formerly Twitter, that “the right to die can quickly become a duty to die,” adding: “This is why I urge all Catholics to pray and write to their deputies . Life is a gift from our Creator.'
In his pastoral letter, which will be read in churches today, Cardinal Nichols recognizes that a change in the law “may be a source of relief for some”. But this will
bring great fear and anxiety to many, especially those who have vulnerabilities and those living with disabilities.'
He continues: “Once assisted suicide is approved by law, a fundamental protection of human life disappears.
'Pressure increases on those who are close to death, from others or even themselves, to end their life, in order to remove a perceived burden of care from their family, to avoid pain, or for for the sake of an inheritance.'
The letter concludes: 'Have discussions with family, friends and colleagues. And pray. Remember: be careful what you wish for; the right to die can become a duty to die; forgetting God belittles our humanity.'
A new law, if passed, should allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives legally in the UK with medical help. But any move to introduce it would provoke intense moral debate – and divide Sir Keir's Cabinet.
The prime minister previously said he supported change but wanted to see the details of any legislation before committing to supporting it.
Others in his party, however, have deep reservations about whether assisted dying would lead to people with other, less life-limiting illnesses – or just those who have reached a certain age – being helped to end their lives.
