United Kingdom Parliament Legalizes Murder

After a clear vote of 330 to 118, Britain voted to legalize “assisted dying.” This is by no means a new phenomenon; people have been killing themselves and each other for nearly all time. These less-than-noble practices are, unfortunately, constants in the history of mankind. The practice of “assisted dying” or suicide-by-proxy is just a clever combination of these two constants found throughout human history.

The phrase “assisted dying” doesn’t sound as bad as other words like “suicide,” or “murder,” and this is by design, as doublessly it is more pleasant to vote for “assisted dying.”

There is the “assisted” part: one might think, “that is nice, it is good to offer assistance to people in need. This is a good cause.”

There is the less pleasant, but ultimately not disagreeable “dying” part: about which, one might reason, “well, dying is no fun, yet alas, it is ultimately unavoidable.”

Regardless of the reasons for those 448 who voted for or against this bill, it was passed, and will likely go into law pending additional reviews and procedures.

The Catholic reaction to the bill came most prominently from the bishops of the local prelature, whom in a recent article on the official website of The Catholic Church Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, spoke out against the bill. His Excellency, Archbishop John Wilson is quoted as saying, “[The Bill] represents a seismic and concerning shift in our nation’s approach to caring for the most vulnerable among us.” The archbishop continued, recalling how in other countries, similar legislation has, over the years, expanded the accessibility of suicide. The bills always start by legalizing medically assisted suicide for adults, with sufficient mental faculties, who have an incurable disease, with months–if not weeks–to live, and un-ameliorated pain. The bills are then, over the years, expanded to include those previously un-included.

The following is the remainder of Archbishop John Wilson’s reflection on the recent piece of legislation to come out of the UK Parliament:

“I am deeply saddened and extremely worried by the progress made in the House of Commons towards the legalisation of assisted suicide. While this is not yet the final step in enacting this legislation, it represents a seismic and concerning shift in our nation’s approach to caring for the most vulnerable among us.

“Compassion, rightly understood, means standing with those who suffer, sharing their burdens, and honouring their dignity until the natural end of their lives. It does not mean hastening death, even in the face of pain or despair. Every human life is of immeasurable value, and our response must always be to protect and support those who are most in need.

“The experience of other countries where assisted suicide has been introduced serves as a grave warning. Promised safeguards are eroded over time, leaving the elderly, disabled, and seriously ill at risk of feeling their lives are a burden to others. The subtle, and sometimes overt, pressure this creates threatens the very fabric of a society built on care and protection for the weakest.

“Legalising assisted suicide also undermines the essential trust between patients and healthcare professionals. Those who dedicate their lives to healing and comforting the sick are being placed in an untenable position. Conscientious objection — the right of medical practitioners, nursing and care staff, and institutions to refuse to participate in practices that violate their deeply held ethical or religious convictions — must be upheld and protected. Without this assurance, the ethos of our healthcare system and the integrity of those who serve within it are at serious risk.

“Instead of moving towards assisted suicide, we must commit to improving palliative care, ensuring that expert pain relief, emotional support, and spiritual care are available to all who need them. No one should feel alone or abandoned in their suffering.

“As we face this challenging moment, I call on Catholics and all people of goodwill to advocate for the protection of life at every stage and to stand in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable. Let us also turn to the Lord Jesus, who shared in human suffering and revealed the depth of his love through his death and resurrection. Through him, we find the strength to defend the dignity of every person and to build a society that values the gift of life from conception to natural death.”

Most Rev John Wilson

Archbishop of Southwark