Upholding the dignity and rights of each person from conception to natural death is essential to healthcare, according to Irish bishop, Michael Router.

The auxiliary Bishop of Armagh is chairman of the Council for Healthcare of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and was commenting on Pope Francis’ message for the 2025 World Day of the Sick.

This view of healthcare has however, “been eroded in Ireland over the past decade with the introduction of a liberal abortion regime that has led to the deaths of over 30,000 children in the womb”, he said.

Likewise, introducing assisted suicide in Ireland would “fly in the face of the underlying principle of medical intervention – ‘Do no harm’”.

Instead, he said, “Increasing funding and capacity in the delivery of palliative care is the only compassionate and ethical way to approach end-of-life issues”.

https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2025/02/09/bishop-michael-router-healthcare-should-never-loose-sight-of-human-dignity-from-conception-to-natural-death/