Bishop condemns assisted suicide as UK House of Lords considers legalization

Catholic Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool in the United Kingdom has issued a statement against assisted suicide, calling for "prayer and action" as the House of Lords prepares to consider its legalization.

In his statement, Sherrington also warned that the legalization could lead to the closure of Catholic-run hospice organizations and care homes.

Key Takeaways:

• Catholic Archbishop John Sherrington spoke against legalizing assisted suicide in a recently-released statement.

• An assisted suicide bill passed the House of Commons in June and will next be considered by the House of Lords.

• Sherrington warned that some religious hospices and care homes may be forced to close if the bill passes, as they will refuse to commit assisted suicide.

• He also lamented the bill's inadequate conscience clause and threat to vulnerable populations.

The Backstory:

Members of Parliament in the UK are currently considering the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalize assisted suicide in the country. The legislation passed the House of Commons in June, and will next be considered by the House of Lords.

The Details:

Sherrington's statement, issued September 1, touched on a number of key reasons why the End of Life Bill is "unworkable."

Threat to care homes and hospices

Sherrington warned that Catholic care homes and hospices, which provide palliative and medical care to people who would likely qualify for assisted suicide, would not provide those suicide deaths, as doing so "would violate their core mission and ethical principles."

He also noted that the House of Commons rejected an amendment that would have allowed employers to prevent their employees from assisting or facilitating in assisted suicide.

He wrote:

Cardinal Nichols and I previously noted that “a right to assisted suicide given to individuals is highly likely to become a duty on care homes and hospices to facilitate it.” As a result, there is a real danger that some care homes and hospices may be forced to significantly limit or even fully withdraw their services.

"Inadequate conscience clause"

Sherrington also lamented that the very premise of legalized assisted suicide undermines the doctor/patient relationship. "The bill’s conscience clause is not adequate," he said.

"Many doctors will effectively be unable to opt out of cooperating with the procedure, because of the duty to direct patients to information and to where they can have a preliminary discussion."

Risk to vulnerable populations

Like others before him, Sherrington warned that elderly and other vulnerable populations will be especially susceptible because the bill has inadequate safeguards against coercion.

As Live Action News has reported, many people choose assisted suicide or euthanasia because they worry about being a burden on their caregiver. Nearly half (47%) of individuals who requested assisted suicide in Oregon in 2022 cited fear of being a “burden on their family, friends/caregivers” as their reasoning.

Sherrington warned of the slippery slope that always accompanies legalized suicide, and said that priority should be given to palliative care instead.

[C]ountries such as Canada demonstrate that wherever assisted suicide is initially introduced for a limited group, the criteria quickly expand to include the non-terminally ill, and soon those without mental capacity. Moreover, introducing assisted suicide does not reduce the overall number of suicides.

Priority must be given to the provision of palliative care which, though excellent where provided, is patchy in terms of its provision around the country. The legalisation of assisted suicide will inevitably further undermine the resourcing of palliative care. Where such provision is absent, individuals will inevitably feel pressured to end their lives.

The Bottom Line:

Sherrington ended calling on UK faithful to pray and advocate for a 'no' vote from members of the House of Lords.

"We continue to call for prayer and action," he said. "I urge you to contact members of the House of Lords and in particular share your personal or professional experience on this important matter."