Message on the Terminally Ill Assisted Dying Bill returning to the House of Commons
I write with some urgency to all the people of the Diocese, as for the third time in little more than a decade, we face a threat to remove legal protections to permit medically assisted suicide, with all the consequences for some of the most vulnerable. I ask you to write to your Member of Parliament to urge them to oppose a re-introduced Private Members Bill to be brought to the House of Commons on Friday 11th September.
In 2015 a Bill to permit medically assisted suicide was overwhelmingly rejected by the House of Commons. In 2024, a Bill with the same object of removing legal protections from the sick and the aged, passed by a small margin in the House of Commons and in June 2025, the same Bill completed its passage with even narrower majority.
This Bill did not survive scrutiny in the House of the Lords due to the dangers it posed and fell in the face of some 1,200 amendments and numerous concerns raised by medical and professional bodies, those representing the disabled, and organisations concerned with mental health and domestic abuse. I think you will be incredulous that this Bill is now back in virtually unamended form. The euthanasia lobby will not easily give up its efforts to breach long-established protections in our laws, and we must be as resolute and tireless in our own stand for the value of every human life and the protection of those most vulnerable.
As Christians we oppose medical killing in principle. The sanctity of human life is one of the great gifts which Christianity brought to human civilisation. However, in writing to your Member of Parliament we need to also highlight the dangerous consequences of this deeply flawed Bill becoming law. We need to point out with many others the threat posed to some of the most vulnerable and the need for the adequate provision of palliative care, seen in the wonderful work of our hospices. Let us pray for all our Members of Parliament and that the threat of euthanasia (the medical killing of the sick and the aged) be decisively rejected in the weeks ahead.
+ Mark
Bishop of Shrewsbury
Statement on the re-introduction of the
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
June 16, 2026
Archbishop John Sherrington has expressed profound regret that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to parliament this Autumn, having failed to become law earlier this year. Responding to the announcement, Archbishop John, the Lead Bishop for Life Issues
for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said:
“I am deeply disappointed that the previously unsuccessful Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being reintroduced in the House of Commons. It is likely to be debated in September.
“The Catholic Church opposes this Bill in principle and joins with many other people of faith and none in arguing that we should not cross this watershed.
“The recent debate about this Bill showed how many people found the proposed legislation, even if they accepted it in principle, to be flawed and full of unresolved matters. The majority in the Commons reduced between readings, the Lords identified many shortcomings and bad legislation.
“Many professional bodies argued against this Bill, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians, whose members would be required to be involved under the provision of the Bill. Disability rights groups, those fighting against eating disorders, and
against domestic abuse were highly concerned and considered it dangerous.
“Concerns that were raised remain unresolved. The Bill undermines freedom of conscience for medical professionals and care workers. It also requires care homes and hospices to participate in assisted suicide, threatening not only their future existence but also the wellbeing of their more vulnerable staff. Reintroducing this legislation, once again, places the most vulnerable at risk. I ask MPs to reject this Bill.
“Recent debates have exposed the uneven provision of palliative care across the country. Surely what is now needed to help the terminally ill is an improvement in compassionate, high quality palliative care, and proper hospice funding. I urge a debate about priorities in healthcare funding, especially for those living with terminal illness. “Finally, I call on all people of goodwill to join me in work and prayer to prevent this flawed bill from succeeding.”
Archbishop John Sherrington
Archbishop of Liverpool
Lead Bishop for Life Issues
Source: CBCEW