Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
As has been made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity.
We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.
The passage of the bill through parliament will lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment, and I am asking your support in urging your MP to vote against this bill at that time.
There are serious reasons for doing so. It is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised, and which will bring about damaging consequences.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service.
It is a Private Members’ Bill which is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it. The time for debate was minimal.
The committee examining the bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
Many vital questions remain unanswered. In contrast to the provisions of this bill, what is needed is ?rst-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. 
It is a sad re?ection of parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.
I am sure that you will share these concerns. It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply ?awed bill with untold unintended consequences.
Every MP, and government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation from reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen.
So, I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.

In blessed hope,

Terry+