.- Cardinal
Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster has signed a joint
letter with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and
Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, urging opposition to the
controversial Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill that would
allow terminally ill patients to request euthanasia from their doctors.
The Bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords.
The Anglican
Archbishop of Canterbury and nine of his Episcopal colleagues joined an
impassioned debate in the House of Lords today to oppose a
controversial Bill that would give terminally ill patients the right to
an assisted death.
“We believe that
all human life is sacred and God-given with a value that is inherent,
not conditional,” the joint statement, published in the London Times
begins.
The three men
said they feared that a right to die would soon become a "duty to die,"
adding, "Were such a law enacted, the elderly, lonely, sick or
distressed would find themselves under pressure, real or imagined, to
ask for an early death. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that
economic pressures might not come to play a significant part in
determining whether to treat or recommend assisted death."
Finally, they
wished to stress the “acute implications for others — relatives,
friends, colleagues, medical professionals and the wider community.”
“As such, any
change in the law would irrevocably change the delicate relationship of
trust between patient and doctor and between citizen and society,” the
letter concludes.
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor also teamed up with Dr Rowan Williams for a rare joint interview on the BBC today.
To read full statement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2175950,00.html
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, British religious authorities urge Parliament against euthanasia bill.
Related news
- Spanish Minister of Justice says government will not seek legalization of euthanasia…for now
- Spanish pro-euthanasia association admits to ‘helping’ handicapped man die
- Archbishop Smith calls for stronger opposition to proposal to legalize euthanasia
- Assisted suicide allowed in Swiss hospital as of Jan. 1
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