Cardinal Vincent Nichols has added his voice to those expressing disappointment after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by 23 votes.
Describing the outcome as a “watershed moment in the history of our country”, Cardinal Nichols said it fundamentally changes society’s long held values and relationships on matters of life and death.
He said: “The task is now clear: every effort must be made to limit the damage that will be done by this decision. This duty lies both on the House of Lords and on His Majesty’s Government.
“The list of challenges is long. It has been well rehearsed in recent weeks by responsible bodies and distinguished individuals, including the Public Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care, whose recommendations have yet to be discussed.
“The appeal to personal autonomy, so much at the centre of the parliamentary debate, cuts both ways: the provision of a choice to die cannot exclude the provision of properly resourced care for those who choose to live until a natural death.
“As Catholics we will continue to play our part in the building of the common good. The decision of parliament does not change our firm belief in the sanctity of life, never simply a burden, but always a gift of God, given and received.
“Our duties are clear: to live by the teaching given to us by God; generously to accompany with care and compassion those facing disability, isolation and suffering; to continue to put forward, with respect and clarity, the objective norms that inform our firm beliefs on how to live, and to die, well.”
Archbishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the result of the vote.
“This bill is flawed in principle, with several provisions that give us great cause for concern.
“The Catholic Church believes in promoting a culture of life and compassionate care. Allowing the medical profession to help patients end their lives will change the culture of healthcare and cause legitimate fears amongst those with disabilities or who are especially vulnerable in other ways.
“We are also concerned about the future of palliative care, not least because experience suggests that, unless there are explicit protections, hospices may be required to co-operate with assisted suicide. If this were to happen, the future of many Catholic institutions could be under threat.
This is not the end of the parliamentary process, and we should not lose hope. We ask the Catholic community to continue to pray for members of parliament while they consider this legislation and to pray that government will act to promote and protect life from conception until natural death.”
Mike Smith, spokesperson for campaign group Not Dead Yet UK, expressed grave concern for the future.
“This decision, despite compelling evidence and testimony from disabled people, doctors and human rights experts about the inherent risks, ignores the stark reality: such legislation places vulnerable terminally ill and disabled individuals in danger. It sends a damaging message that some lives are less worth living and less worth protecting.
“We are devastated that MPs have chosen to pass this dangerous bill. This is not autonomy; it is a failure to protect those most at risk from societal pressure, isolation, and inadequate support. Legalising assisted dying for terminally ill people creates a lethal pathway where the ‘choice’ to die can become a duty for those who feel they are a burden. Disabled lives are on the line.”
The group vowed to continue their fight against the bill as it makes its progress through the House of Lords.
“The passage of this bill in the Commons is a setback, but it is not the end,” Mr Smith added.
“We call upon the House of Lords to act as the vital revising chamber it is meant to be. They must listen to the voices of disabled people whose lives are directly threatened by this legislation and act to protect them. Not Dead Yet UK and our allies will be there every step of the way, fighting to prevent this dangerous law from causing irreparable harm.”
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for the charity Right To Life UK, which campaigns against assisted suicide and in support of better access to palliative care, said: “This marks a remarkable reversal in fortunes for the bill, which has gone from passing its second reading in November last year by a 55-vote majority, to only passing Third Reading by 23 votes.
“Although the bill passed the Commons, momentum remains with its opponents, with support consistently falling every time MPs have considered it. The bill leaves the Commons lacking a majority, with fewer than half of all MPs voting for it at its final stage.
“We will be fighting this bill at every stage in the House of Lords, where we are confident it can be overturned given its continued loss of support.”
“Hundreds of thousands of people from around the country, from a wide range of backgrounds and with differing views, have come together on this one issue. We will be working together to ensure this Bill, which would have a profoundly negative impact on vulnerable people in our society, never becomes law.
“The most vulnerable in our society deserve our unwavering protection and the highest standard of care, not a pathway to assisted suicide. Evidence from overseas shows that, if this legislation becomes law, countless vulnerable people nearing the end of life would be pressured or coerced into ending their lives.”