Pastoral letter

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Terminally Ill (End of Life) Bill, as it is for formally known, received a second reading at the end of November. This is currently with the committee which will scrutinise it before the legislation is returned for further voting in the House of Commons. Our country is divided about this legislation. Some have campaigned for this over a long period of time. Nevertheless, there is a broad coalition of voices, from various religious traditions and none, who are very concerned about the implications of the idea that individuals may be able to commit suicide with the assistance of medical professionals. The research briefing from the House of Commons Library puts things this way: ‘The broad aim of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is to allow adults aged 18 and over, who have mental capacity, are terminally ill and are in the final six months of their life, to request assistance from a doctor to end their life.’ It will be challenging to overturn this proposed legislation, but not impossible. Within our diocese, 13 MPs voted for this Bill and 10 voted against it.

From what we hear, some politicians have serious concerns about the proposed safeguards around the legislation. Will there really be rigorous oversight to prevent misuse of the right to end one’s life? It is clear that these safeguards are unravelling. How may anyone know with certainty that someone is in the final six months of mortal life? We pray the expert evidence being presently considered will also focus upon the wonderful palliative care that takes place in hospices and other places. Palliative care professionals have already expressed concern about the funding and research in this important area of medicine. Will this proposed new legislation damage the provision of palliative care even further? The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have already submitted evidence to the Bill Committee emphasising that this legislation is unworkable.

This proposed law is a bad tree that cannot bear good fruit. Christ’s disciples have much to encourage them to pray and work for the promotion of a culture of life. The mystery of eternal life we profess is presented so well by St Paul in today’s liturgy: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ The truths of the Gospel proclaimed by our Lord have long been challenged and disparaged within a society that is largely indifferent to the fundamental kerygmatic mysteries of our faith – we are created in God’s image and likeness; despite humanity’s fall from grace, God sent his beloved Son amongst us. Jesus lovingly offered his life in loving obedience to his Father and for our sake. He rose again in his human body and ascended to the Father, fulfilling his promise to send the Holy Spirit to us. As the Body of Christ, the Church seeks to build the Kingdom our Saviour inaugurated in his life, death and resurrection.

And so, I invite you to join me with two actions. The first is to pray. We pray for those who are seriously ill and dying. May they discover the hope of eternal life we share in Christ. And may they receive good palliative care in their suffering. We pray for those in the medical profession who will feel very challenged by this proposed legislation. We pray for our political representatives that their consciences will encourage them to stand against this bad legislation. And please write to your MP. Your letter does not need to be long or complicated. Just reach out to them and encourage them to vote against assisted dying.

We may ask ourselves, what’s the point? No one will take notice of my prayers or actions. Against these understandable feelings, I am very encouraged by the words of the apostle Paul at the end of today’s second reading: ‘Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.’

Yours devotedly in Christ,

✠ David J Oakley

Bishop of Northampton

Given at Northampton on 22nd February 2025,
The Feast of St Peter’s Chair,
and appointed to be read or distributed in all churches and chapels of the Diocese on the weekend of the Eighth Sunday of the Year, 1st and 2nd March, 2025