Resources for contacting your MP on assisted suicide
To the supporters of Christian Values in Education –
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
CViE is a charity devoted to education, as you know. Our focus is on equipping and encouraging Christians to stand fast on the word of God in education today.
However, the Trustees of CViE thought it vital to urge all of our supporters to pray and contact their Member of Parliament concerning the upcoming vote on the legalisation regarding euthanasia. This is a matter with serious potential devastating ramifications on our society.
Whether it is termed ‘assisted dying’ or ‘euthanasia’ (in the past the term ‘mercy killing’ was employed), Christians have always upheld Biblical teaching on the sanctity of human life and held that the intentional taking of human life is wrong. Christians believe that it is God alone who has the power to number our days, Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth. (Psalms 39:5)
This determination of men to take control over the time of their own death – terms like ‘death with dignity’ are used – is nothing more than an overflow of the pride of human heart that has always sought to usurp the sovereignty of God. Death is common to all, but any personal power to grant dignity at death is an illusion and deception, for God alone has the final say over all death: There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. (Ecclesiastes 8:8)
A number of countries now permit euthanasia, and the experience in every case (see Belgium and Canada, especially) is a rapid expansion from what is promised at first to be only a narrow application. The progress from choice to compulsion happens frighteningly quickly.
CViE hopes to equip and encourage our supporters with links below in speaking out on this iniquitous legislation that comes before this Parliament for a first vote on November 29th. The full text of the proposed new law has been published – click here. What is proposed is to “allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life”. While the bill uses the language of “terminally ill”, experience tells us that any such definitions can construed very broadly and be quite elastic to grant wide latitude, extending “cannot be reversed by treatment” to include many non-terminal but distressing conditions. Simply by refusing treatment a person could render themselves eligible.
The Trustees of CViE would exhort all our supporters to contact their MP, and to raise awareness in their local fellowship. Our society will be greatly impoverished with passage of this law, and the costs will be inestimable. We have an enemy who hates God’s image-bearers, and we must respond strongly and faithfully whilst we have the freedom to do so.
We trust that the resources below may be of assistance.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Christian Institute panel of experts discussion of the proposed legislation
A panel of experts joined Ciarán Kelly to discuss Kim Leadbeater MP’s Bill on assisted suicide. Can it really be ‘compassionate’ to help someone to die rather than help them to live? The panel considered the implications of the Bill, how Christians should respond, and whether such a law can ever have meaningful safeguards.
Supporters of assisted suicide make a supercially sympathetic argument – that a right to an assisted death will greatly improve the wellbeing of those who want to die – while not taking anything away from those who do not. They claim it to be a ‘win-win’ policy. This is not so. There are significant costs, and those must not be overlooked.
The strongest case against assisted dying: listening to its proponents
Here is a must-watch 9-minutes. This video clearly and starkly and unequivocally exposes how shallow the arguments for the proposed legislation are, and how ill-equipped its proponents are to defend it.
CHRISTIAN CONCERN AND SPUC
Christian Concern has a page dedicated to steps that Christians can take – Act now to stop assisted suicide – as does the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) – Fight the Leadbeater bill.
SPUC offers a helpful briefing on the private member’s bill, explaining it in great detail.
If you are you looking for a helpful summary of arguments to be prepared to defend life, see 12 reasons not to legalise assisted suicide from CC.
THE ‘SLIPPERY SLOPE’
The horror experience of Canada
Alex Schadenberg from Canada warns of the danger of assisted suicide, with horror stories of how real the ‘slippery slope’ is, and how rapidly Canada has plummeted down that slope. (more here) Under the proposed UK legislation, while doctors will not initially be obliged to raise the topic of assisted suicide, they will have liberty to suggest it to a patient.
Judge ‘safeguard’ in assisted suicide bill is “meaningless”
But won’t the involvement of a judge make a difference, to keep things from getting out of control? Recent experience suggests the hard truth that those who choose life cannot rely on judges to guard those values.
MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW
Medical professionals do not want this
Over three thousand doctors, nurses and other practitioners have warned the House of Commons against removing end-of-life protections for the vulnerable. While a medical professional may not immediately have a duty to participate directly, they would be obliged to refer patients to willing practitioners to undergo assisted suicide.
The importance and value of palliative care
Dr Dominic Whitehouse discusses palliative care and his concerns regarding assisted suicide.
THE PRESSURE ON MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Many MPs are worried about the impact of assisted suicide
Constituents need to make their voices heard, as many MPs are unsure about the proposing legalisation of assisted suicide. Aside from the moral dilemma, because it is a Private Members’ Bill, there will not be the usual level of scrutiny and debate as the bills put forward by the government. Christians must not presume the outcome of the vote and we urge our supporters to act on what is an incremental element of the agenda of the culture of death, already expressed through liberalized abortion laws.
Click here to find your MP, so you can express your concerns directly.
Click here if you are unsure of what to say to your MP.
FINALLY
Finally, in a letter to his congregation, a minister points out the Gospel implications for the Church that is resisting the culture of death, and how Care for the vulnerable is a great hallmark of Christian witness.
We urge all our supporters to write to their MP and thank you in anticipation of your support. Most of all, we request that we all unite in prayer that the Lord will overturn the designs of those who seek to infiltrate further evil practices into our society.
With Christian greetings,
The Trustees of Christian Values in Education
