Archbishop Peter Smith on Assisted Suicide Bill
On 11th September, the House of Commons will be debating the Assisted Suicide Bill. If this Private Member's Bill is passed, doctors will be able to help people commit suicide. Archbishop Peter Smith has expressed his grave concern over the Bill and issued the following statement:
Very many people of all faiths and none will be concerned about a Bill to legalise Assisted Suicide in England and Wales which will be debated in the House of Commons on 11th September 2015. This private members Bill, introduced by Rob Marris MP, will have a free vote and it is important that people make their views known to their own MP ahead of this extremely important debate. Information about the issues, together with resources and guidance will be circulated to all parishes in the next week or two.
There are excellent resources on the Bishops' Conference website (www.catholicnews.org.uk/assisted-suicide ) and the website of the Anscombe Bioethics centre (www.bioethics.org.uk )
I strongly urge Catholics to contact their own MP as soon as possible to express their concern about the dangerous impact which such a Bill would have on the most vulnerable people. MPs do listen to their own constituents. What is needed is more and better palliative care, not assistance with suicide.
Source: CCN