‘Put no limits on compassion’, say bishops as they oppose assisted dying Bill

Vulnerable people will be put at risk if assisted dying is legalised, warn the bishops of the Church in Wales.

They fear the proposed legislation, being introduced in Parliament this week (Oct 16), will “devalue all human life” if passed and good intentions will “swiftly lead to bad and unintended outcomes”.

The bishops call instead for the extension of the best possible palliative care “so no limits are put on the compassion which we show.”

The full statement follows.

This is an extremely difficult issue over which different people, including Christians, will have arrived at differing views with the best of intentions. Nonetheless, the protection of the most vulnerable people in our society from the risks inherent in this measure must be the paramount issue, and for that reason, we cannot in good conscience support the proposed legislation. There is abundant evidence from those jurisdictions where this measure has been enacted that good intentions can swiftly lead to bad and unintended outcomes, and to the devaluing of all human life. Our Christian faith has always been rooted in the reality of pain and mortality, but also in the incalculable value of each human person, irrespective of their social standing, their access to resources, or their physical or mental ability. In that spirit, shown to us in the person of Jesus, we give our heartfelt support to the extension of the best possible palliative care to all who require it, so that no limits are put on the compassion which we show as individuals and as a society.”

The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John

The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron

The Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann

The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas

The Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard

The Bishop of St Davids, Dorrien Davies

The Bishop of Bardsey, David Morris