UK MPs pass assisted suicide bill 314-291, sparking outcry from Catholic leaders who warn it threatens life’s sanctity. Bill now faces House of Lords scrutiny.
Newsroom, June 21, 2025, Gaudium Press – In a historic and divisive vote, UK Members of Parliament passed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, legalizing assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. The bill, which cleared its Third Reading by a narrow margin of 314 to 291, now heads to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. Catholic leaders, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, condemned the decision as a “watershed moment” that threatens society’s core values on life and death.
The legislation allows medical professionals to assist in the suicide of terminally ill adults under specific conditions, marking a significant shift in UK law. Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, warned that the vote “fundamentally changes society’s long-held values and relationships on matters of life and death.” He urged the House of Lords and the government to mitigate the bill’s potential harm, emphasizing the need for robust palliative care to support those who choose to live until natural death.
“The appeal to personal autonomy, so central to the parliamentary debate, cuts both ways,” Nichols said. “The provision of a choice to die cannot exclude properly resourced care for those who choose to live.” He reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to the sanctity of life, calling it “a gift of God, never simply a burden.”
Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark described the week as “terrifyingly dark” for British history, arguing the bill endangers vulnerable groups, including unborn children, the elderly, and adults with disabilities. “All who uphold the dignity of human life from conception to natural death must raise their voices for the voiceless,” Wilson said, framing the issue as one of “basic justice” transcending religious belief.
Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, the Bishops’ Conference Lead Bishop for Life Issues, expressed shock at the vote, labeling the bill “flawed in principle” with provisions that raise serious concerns. He warned that legalizing assisted suicide could alter the culture of healthcare, instilling fear among people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Sherrington also highlighted risks to palliative care, noting that hospices might face pressure to participate in assisted suicide, potentially threatening Catholic institutions.
“Experience suggests that without explicit protections, hospices may be required to cooperate with assisted suicide,” Sherrington said. “This could jeopardize the future of many Catholic institutions.”
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have consistently opposed the bill, advocating instead for enhanced palliative care to alleviate end-of-life suffering. Sherrington called on Catholics to pray for parliamentarians and support those working in hospices, hospitals, and care homes. “Genuine compassion involves accompanying those who need care, especially during sickness, disability, and old age,” he said.
As the bill moves to the House of Lords, debate is expected to intensify. Critics, including the Public Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care, have raised concerns about its implications, while supporters argue it grants terminally ill patients autonomy over their final days. The outcome in the Lords could shape the future of UK healthcare and spark broader discussions on the ethics of end-of-life choices.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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