All life is sacred - a gift from God. This is why the Church opposes abortion (ending life in the womb) and Euthanasia (ending life before natural death).
The Church believes all life should be cherished at all times. The Church endorses practical initiatives to help those in need including better palliative care for the terminally ill, and support for mothers-to-be.
CURRENT CAMPAIGN
We are calling on Catholics in England and Wales to unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide. In early September 2024, Our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now as on Wednesday, 16 October, the House of Commons will hear the first reading of a new bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we need you to contact your MP to voice your opposition.
Some frequently asked questions on Assisted Suicide and why the Church has always been against euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Our written evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry into Assisted Suicide, submitted in January 2023, offers ten clear reasons to oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Bishop John Sherrington, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, submitted written evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry into Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide.
Encyclicals, Church Teachings and letters from the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith all with a focus on End of Life Issues
Most people want their death – or that of a loved one or friend – to be comfortable and reconciled. A dignified death. The content in this section will explain how hospices work and demonstrate why they are the jewel in the crown when it comes to palliative and end of life care.
What do we mean when we talk about 'dying well'? This is one of life's greatest questions.
Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
Living and Dying Well researches and analyses the evidence surrounding the 'assisted dying' debate. Their aim is to present readers with reliable information on which to form their own views.
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues.
In 2021, a Private Members Bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Molly Meacher, then-Chair of Dignity in Dying. The bill officially fell when it ran out of time to pass the necessary steps in May 2022.
