Cardinal calls Catholics in England and Wales to Holy Hour to defeat assisted suicide bill

London, England, Nov 8, 2024 / 15:25 pm (CNA).

Catholics across England and Wales are urged to unite in prayer the evening of Nov. 13 following a plea from their cardinal to oppose the proposal to legalize assisted suicide.

In a video message released Friday, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, announced that during their usual November plenary meeting, the bishops of England and Wales will hold a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and encouraged Catholics to join them in prayer.

In his video statement, Nichols said: “On Wednesday the 13th of November, in the evening, your bishop — all the bishops of England and Wales — will kneel before the Blessed Sacrament praying for our country.”

“Now we are praying on that day together because we are quickly approaching the presentation in Parliament and a vote on a bill that might introduce assisted dying,” he continued. ”… Now we want to pray about this because it is a move towards really diminishing the importance of every person, really saying that my life is not a gift from God.”

The latest bill, which would legalize assisted dying for the terminally ill, has been introduced in the House of Commons and will be debated and likely voted on Nov. 29.

The bill was initiated by Kim Leadbeater, Labour member of Parliament for Spen Valley.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his personal support for a change in the law on assisted suicide, which currently states that aiding and abetting suicide can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

When members of Parliament vote on Nov. 29, it will be the first time they have voted on similar legislation since 2015, when assisted suicide was defeated by 330 votes to 118. 

In his statement, Nichols said: “We pray passionately that we will not take a step in legislation that promotes a so-called ‘right to die.’ That will quite likely become a duty to die and place pressure on doctors and medical staff to help take life rather than to care, protect, and heal.”

Alongside the cardinal’s message, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has also released a booklet for Catholics to use during their Holy Hour, which includes a reflection written by the cardinal, similar to his video message.

The reflection concludes by asking for prayers for the palliative care community in England and Wales, arguing that society should invest in resources for them rather than resorting to such legislation. 

Nichols concludes: “This is an important moment in our history. Please write to your MP [member of Parliament] to make your voice heard. Many have not yet made up their minds how to vote. May God bless us all, bless our countries, and bless those who make our laws with the courage to embrace and uphold a culture of life.”