Letter: Presbyterian Church expresses relief at fall of attempt to bring in law on assisted suicide; 'well-resourced palliative care is the safest, most dignified and compassionate way forward'
A letter from Rt Rev Dr Richard Murray and Rev Daniel Kane:
With the formal end of the UK 2024-2026 Parliamentary Session, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has welcomed the formal demise of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
We give thanks to God that this Bill has fallen and will not now become law in England and Wales. Over the years we have consistently affirmed and reaffirmed the importance and innate dignity of every human life from conception to death as a precious gift from God.
Following the completion of the initial stages of the Bill in the House of Commons last June, we said that it was ‘a profoundly dark turning point for the UK’. We are very thankful and relieved that the point of no return was not crossed, a development that would have also placed unnecessary pressure on a haemorrhaging NHS, which works so hard to heal and preserve life.
Notwithstanding the disappointment felt by many people at the fall of this Bill, we believe that a society that does not preserve and protect the dignity of each human life, especially the most vulnerable, loses something very precious and becomes a much lesser place for it.
At the same time, no number of legal safeguards could have ensured the safety of those with a terminal diagnosis. As a church we believe that there is a better way and we call again for the mainstreaming, investing in, and strengthening of palliative care services across these islands that support those who are nearing the end of their lives.
As a church we also believe that well-resourced palliative care is the safest, most dignified and compassionate way forward, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This is the true hallmark of a mature, caring and compassionate society, not the state’s ability to assist in the suicide of its citizens.
Where personal autonomy and individual choice have often driven this debate, we need to remember that in our humanity we are also spiritual beings, created for dependence, not self-sufficiency. Our comfort and confidence are found in the assurance of everlasting life, by God’s Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rt Rev Dr Richard Murray, PCI moderator, and Rev Daniel Kane, convener of PCI council for public affairs