The UK’s Catholic bishops expressed dismay [1] after the British parliament gave preliminary approval of a Bill to legalise assisted suicide, while those opposing the measure promised to redouble their efforts to stop it from becoming law.
On Friday, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was approved by Parliament by a vote of 330 in favour to 275 against at the second stage of the Bill with members of all the major parties split on the issue.
Bishop Patrick McKinney of Nottingham said it would be a “devastating law” and added: “This marks a very bleak day in our country’s history”.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, [3] Catherine Robinson, said “This is just the first stage of a long journey through the Commons and then the Lords for this dangerous assisted suicide Bill. We are now going to redouble our efforts to ensure we fight this Bill at every stage and ensure that it is defeated to protect the most vulnerable”.