Bishop Peter Collins Opposes Assisted Dying Bill

Bishop Peter Collins has called for greater investment in palliative care and urged Parliament to reject the reintroduced Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, describing it as “fundamentally flawed”.

In a video message, the Bishop of East Anglia described the legislation as “a watershed moment for our country” and said it lacked the scrutiny and reflection needed for legislation of such significance.

Bishop Peter said the Bill leaves “many matters unresolved” concerning its practical application and its implications for disabled and vulnerable people.

“Rather than any consideration of assisted suicide, our society should surely be addressing the need to establish and resource a universal provision of palliative care across the country,” he said.

While reaffirming the Catholic Church’s principled opposition to assisted suicide, Bishop Peter stressed that the issue extends beyond religious belief.

“This necessarily concerns everyone,” he said, encouraging people of all faiths and none to reflect on the importance of promoting and defending human life. He added that while faith provides “special light and strength”, the question is one that “arises in every human conscience which seeks the truth and which cares about the future of humanity”.

His comments follow renewed national debate ahead of the Bill’s expected return to the House of Commons in September. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has consistently argued that improving access to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care should be the priority, rather than introducing legislation to legalise assisted suicide.

The Bishops’ Conference has also made resources available for parishes and individuals wishing to learn more about the issue and encourages people to contact their MPs ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary debate.

The full video and further resources can be accessed here.

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