The Bishop of Shrewsbury has warned against the ‘deadly agenda’ of euthanasia supporters as renewed attempts have been made to change the law to allow doctors to help patients commit suicide.
Bishop Mark Davies said at Midnight Mass that the Christian values of mercy and compassion should not be distorted to drive forward a “deadly agenda” that is at odds with the Christian moral inheritance.
Bishop of Shrewsbury Mark Davies underlined, in his Christmas message, that it is “especially sinister” for the euthanasia lobby to exploit the Christmas season to contradict Christian morality.
“Each generation passes through its own dark shadows to return constantly to His light,” Bishop Davies said.
“It seems especially sinister that the euthanasia lobby should choose this moment of the year to advance its deadly agenda and even use the Christian imperatives of “compassion” and “mercy” to speak of medical killing.”
The Bishop’s stark rejection of euthanasia and assisted suicide, often referred to in the media under the euphemism of “assisted dying”, comes as activists seek to exploit the announcement by television presenter Dame Esther Rantzen, that she has joined Dignitas, the assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, and might wish to end her life there if treatment for stage four lung cancer fails.
Her statement led to activists and some politicians suggesting that the 1961 Suicide Act, under which assisted suicide may be punished by up to 14 years in jail, should be abolished or amended so doctors can assist in the suicides of some of their patients without fear of prosecution.
Bishop Davies rejected this proposal and the ‘new morality’ of euthanasia. He suggested that changing the law to permit doctors to prescribe lethal cocktails in assisted suicide or administer lethal injections in euthanasia is contrary to the Christian values of the sanctity of every human life and care for the weakest and most vulnerable.
“Christianity led us to care for the weakest and most vulnerable; euthanasia proposes a new morality where the light of Christ no longer guides us,” he said.
In his homily, Bishop Davies reminded the congregation at Shrewsbury Cathedral that Christmas leads society back to the values of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, which he described as “a joy to be shared by the whole people”.
Bishop Davies said: “Truths we might too easily take for granted are recalled to every mind and heart by these festive days: the value of every human life; the innate dignity of every human being; compassion for the weakest; peace between men and the charity that we owe to each other.
“These are values and moral imperatives which were alien and unthinkable to the ancient mind but which we trace back to the cradle of Christ’s dawning light.”
Cabinet Ministers Michael Gove and Mel Stride suggested that the law should be revisited by the House of Commons, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer indicated that he may permit parliamentary time for a so-called “assisted dying” Bill to be debated.
Sir Keir said personally be believed “there are grounds for changing the law”.
Esther Rantzen picture-Jonathan Brady/PA Wire