Bishops urge Welsh Senedd to reject UK’s assisted suicide bill ahead of vote

Two senior Catholic bishops in Wales have expressed “deep concern” about a U.K. bill that would legalize assisted suicide and have urged members of the Senedd to “withhold consent,” effectively preventing Westminster from legislating on the issue in Wales.

In a joint statement, Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff-Menevia and Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham wrote that should the bill go through, “it would place many vulnerable people at greater risk.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 27, members of the Senedd will debate and vote on whether Wales should give its consent to Westminster’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow adults who are expected to die within six months to be given help to end their own life, subject to certain safeguards.

Although not a legally binding arrangement, the U.K. Parliament is not supposed to make law in devolved areas like health in Wales unless the Senedd has given its consent.

The Senedd was set to debate and vote on Jan. 20, but the decision was postponed at the request of a Senedd committee.

The joint statement from the bishops read: “The right response to suffering is not to hasten death but to strengthen palliative and end-of-life care so that every person can live their final days with dignity, comfort, and peace.”

“International experience shows that where assisted suicide is legalized, eligibility criteria tend to expand over time, the number of deaths increases, and subtle but real pressure is placed on people who are elderly, disabled, or who fear becoming a burden on others.”

They have also invited people across Wales to observe a day of fasting on Jan. 26, “to be in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable to the proposed bill, and that those intent upon passing it may undergo a change of heart.”

Supporters of the bill argue it would give terminally ill people greater autonomy at the end of life and prevent them from having to travel outside Wales to access assisted dying.

Asked why he felt it necessary to issue the statement now, a spokesperson for O’Toole told EWTN News: “The timing reflects the seriousness and immediacy of the decision now facing Wales. The Senedd is being asked to give legislative consent for a bill that would fundamentally change how society responds to those who are seriously ill and dying.”

“As pastors, we have a responsibility to speak clearly when such significant decisions are imminent, particularly where the lives of vulnerable people may be affected,” the spokesperson said.

Asked whether he saw this as a pastoral intervention for Catholics or as an attempt to influence how members of the Senedd vote on a matter of public policy, the spokesperson said: “First and foremost, we are speaking as pastors to Catholics, encouraging prayer, reflection, and solidarity with those who are suffering. At the same time, assisted suicide is a matter of public policy with far-reaching consequences, particularly for health care, safeguarding, and social attitudes towards disability and illness.”

Asked what alternatives he would like to see, the spokesperson said: “We would like to see sustained investment in high-quality palliative and hospice care across Wales, including better access in rural areas, stronger community-based services, and greater support for families and carers.”

“This includes addressing workforce pressures, ensuring adequate pain and symptom management, and improving mental-health and social-care support for people at the end of life,” he continued. “When people feel well cared for, supported, and not alone, the perceived demand for assisted suicide diminishes significantly.”

On the question of what he would say to nonreligious members of the Senedd who may be uneasy about faith-based arguments influencing law, the spokesperson replied: “Our concerns are not based solely on theology but on widely shared principles of human dignity, equality, and protection of the vulnerable.”

“Many people who oppose assisted suicide do so from secular, medical, disability-rights, and ethical perspectives,” he said. “Experience from other countries raises serious questions about safeguarding, coercion, and the gradual expansion of eligibility. These are legitimate public-policy concerns, and they deserve careful consideration regardless of one’s religious beliefs.”

Asked how the Catholic Church in Wales would respond in practical terms, the spokesperson said: “Whatever the outcome of the vote, the Catholic Church in Wales will continue to accompany those who are ill, dying, and vulnerable with compassion and care.“

“We will remain committed to providing pastoral support, chaplaincy, and practical assistance through our parishes, hospitals, schools, and charities,“ the spokesperson said. “We will also continue to advocate for strong safeguards, excellent palliative care, and policies that affirm the value of every human life. Our mission to care for those who suffer does not depend on legislation, and it will not waver.”

A spokesperson for the Welsh government told EWTN News it remains neutral on the issue, saying: “The legislative consent motion due to be debated in the Senedd is an opportunity for members of the Senedd to have their say — and vote — on the provisions of the bill that have regard to devolved matters, and will ensure the U.K. Parliament can meaningfully take account of the Senedd’s position before the bill reaches its final stages.”

The Labour member of Parliament (MP) behind the legislation, Kim Leadbeater, said she fears that people in Wales who wish to access assisted dying could be forced to travel to England or Scotland if the Senedd withholds consent.

Her bill has already been approved by MPs and is currently progressing through the House of Lords.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/europe/bishops-urge-welsh-senedd-to-reject-uk-s-assisted-suicide-bill-ahead-of-vote