National Secular Society ✒ Anglican bishops in the House of Lords have united to oppose a bill to allow the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill people.

During the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill on Friday, archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said there was "unanimity" on the bishops' bench that the law on assisted dying "does not need to be changed".

The bishops' bench consists of 26 Church of England bishops, or 'Lords Spiritual', who are automatically appointed to the House of Lords.

The bill would legalise assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life.

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Religious opposition

Other members of the bishop's bench who voiced their opposition in the debate included Martin Warner, Paul Butler and James Newcome.

Warner, who is the bishop of Chichester, said "God does not inflict evil on people".

Robert Winston said the influence of bishops on the "moral compass" of the assisted dying debate is "extremely important".

Religious objections to the bill were also made by Michael Farmer, who called it "an atheists' Bill, denying God and denying eternity", and Patrick Cormack, who said the bill "does not really acknowledge the fact that many of us believe in the afterlife".

Continue reading @ National Secular Society.

Bishops’ Bench Rallies Against Assisted Dying Bill

National Secular Society ✒ Anglican bishops in the House of Lords have united to oppose a bill to allow the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill people.

During the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill on Friday, archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said there was "unanimity" on the bishops' bench that the law on assisted dying "does not need to be changed".

The bishops' bench consists of 26 Church of England bishops, or 'Lords Spiritual', who are automatically appointed to the House of Lords.

The bill would legalise assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life.

...

Religious opposition

Other members of the bishop's bench who voiced their opposition in the debate included Martin Warner, Paul Butler and James Newcome.

Warner, who is the bishop of Chichester, said "God does not inflict evil on people".

Robert Winston said the influence of bishops on the "moral compass" of the assisted dying debate is "extremely important".

Religious objections to the bill were also made by Michael Farmer, who called it "an atheists' Bill, denying God and denying eternity", and Patrick Cormack, who said the bill "does not really acknowledge the fact that many of us believe in the afterlife".

Continue reading @ National Secular Society.

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