Life
January 2023 – Enquiry into Assisted Suicide
At the beginning of the New Year, I am writing to inform you that the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee has launched an inquiry into assisted suicide and is inviting individual members of the public and interested organisations to comment, and also to suggest what actions might be helpful for the debate. Options include a ‘Citizens’ Assembly’, further independent research, or a referendum.
Assisted suicide presents profound dangers to public safety and the common good, and so it is crucial that as many people as possible engage with the Parliamentary Inquiry and oppose the introduction of assisted suicide into UK law. It is especially important that those who respond should oppose the idea of a ‘Citizens’ Assembly’ or referendum on this issue, as these are easily abused to try to legalise assisted suicide.
Pope Francis has constantly taught against assisted suicide, euphemistically called, ‘assisted dying’, as have earlier pontiffs.
The Catholic Church is clear that we can never assist in taking the life of another, even if they request it. All life is sacred from conception until natural death, and we reiterate our call for investment in high quality palliative care. Our call is one for assistance in living and not assistance in committing suicide.
The timeframe for answering the consultation is a short one. Submissions must be in by Friday 20 January but happily the format of the Inquiry is simple, and not time-consuming – just six questions. To aid public engagement, theAnscombeBioethics Centre hasproduced a short two-page Briefing(click on link) to help anyone interested in responding, whether as an individual or as an organisation.
For completion of online goverment survey, click on: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/M66AML/
Anyone with any questions can contact theAnscombeCentre atadmin@bioethics.co.uk.
Marriage & Family
Marriage and Family Life – part of the Agency for Evangelisation.
Working alongside existing groups, promoting a renewed culture of the Gospel of Life within parishes, schools and the wider community.
Marriage Formation – Support for Married Couples – Catechesis – Resources
M&FL Coordinator: Deacon Roger Carr-Jones, rogercarrjones@rcdow.org.uk 020 7931 9363 Webpages: https://rcdow.org.uk/marriage-and-family-life/