Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
 
Following my pastoral message in March 2024, I wish to speak to you again about the process by which Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I made clear previously, concerning this grave matter, as Catholics we maintain a principled objection to this change in law, because we recognise that every human life is sacred: a gift of God, bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.
 
The passage of the Bill through Parliament, as originally proposed, would lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.
 
There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.
 
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
 
One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended. What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?
 
In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.
 
It is sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.
 
I am sure that you will share these concerns. Despite recent events, this measure is still being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.
 
Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So, I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.
 
In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’.
 
We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So, we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.
 
With an assurance of my continued prayers and blessing.
 
Yours devotedly in Christ,
 
+John Wilson
Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark

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WEEKDAY SERVICES:
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From the CBCEW: As we mark National Marriage Week 2025 think about the huge importance of marriage in our lives and society. In a world that can be confusing and divided, hope shines brightly especially in this Jubilee Year. And the hope of marriage is that it becomes a source of stability and happiness, showing us the endless love that God has for all of us. Read more>>>>

Message from the Diocesan ICT Department:
 
We’d like to bring to your attention a concerning rise in scam emails targeting our parishioners. These emails impersonate the parish priest, often using a similar email name and masking the real email address. They typically request the recipient to purchase Amazon or other gift cards as gifts for the priest. Unfortunately, we have received reports of parishioners falling victim to these scams, with some individuals losing up to £600 to the fraudsters. Parishioners are asked:
 
• Never to purchase gift cards as gifts for the parish priest, based on an email request, unless they have verified the request directly in person or through a trusted means
 
• To double-check any suspicious email by directly contacting the parish office
 
• To avoid sharing personal or financial information in response to unsolicited emails.

If your parishioners encounter these emails, please encourage them to report them as spam and inform the parish office immediately

From the CBCEW: Newly-appointed Episcopal Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Nicholas Hudson, has written an article for his diocesan website celebrating Blessed Carlo Acutis’ connection to Westminster. The millennial will be canonised – made a saint – on Sunday, 27 April 2025. Read more>>>

From the Archdiocese of Southwark:

​It is with much sadness that we announced Bishop John Hine, a retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark, died on Saturday afternoon 16 November in Abbotsleigh Care Home, Staplehurst, where he had been resident for a few months. Read more>>>

A memorable day for the Pupil Chaplaincy Team at St. Andrew's School who received a special blessing from Father Deo at St. Bartholomew’s.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Westminster, has issued a pastoral letter on assisted suicide that will be read in the churches of his diocese on the weekend of 12-13 October.

Referring to a private members’ bill on assisted suicide that will be introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, the Cardinal offers three key points for Catholics to be aware of, and calls on the faithful to Read more >>>