Scottish Catholic Observer

On Sunday, Pope Francis denounced euthanasia as a ‘sin against God’—a timely warning to legislators in the UK, particularly for those in Scotland. Here two pieces of proposed legislation are currently testing our society’s protection of life—Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill and the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill, launched by the late MSP Margo MacDonald and now championed by Green MSP Patrick Harvie.

At the beginning of this month, a proponent of euthanasia claimed that assisted dying will be made legal in the UK ‘within two years’ Dr Kailash Chand, the deputy chairman of British Medical Association, threw his weight behind Lord Falconer’s private member’s bill, saying law on ‘dying with dignity’ must, and will, change soon. A chilling indication of the low value our society puts on life.

It is hard to believe how far along this path we have come. Last month delegates at the sixth Scottish Older People’s Assembly (Sopa) heard pensioners say that Scotland is letting them down by ‘falling short’ in its efforts to improve the lives of older people. Hardly surprising if assisted suicide is seen by politicians and medical professionals as a possible answer.

In Scotland opposition to legalising euthanasia from the Church and the pro-life movement has summed up public concern.

Catholics are encouraged to take part in an online petition calling on MSPs to reject a bill that would allow people to obtain help in ending their life, calling the assisted suicide plan before the Scottish Parliament ‘unethical and uncontrollable.’

The petition can be found at http://www.carenotkilling .org.uk/scotland/petition and at http://www.rcpolitics.org

Scottish MSPs are likely to decide on the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill in the very near future. On December 3 the Jesuits at Lauriston in Edinburgh are hosting a debate on where Scotland stands on assisted suicide with Anthony Busuttil, Professor Emeritus of forensic medicine at Edinburgh University, and Robert A Minns, Professor (Emeritus) of Paediatric Neurology at Edinburgh University.

As the debate on assisted suicide takes place at the Scottish Parliament, there really is is no better time to hear two distinguished Catholic physicians explore the issue.

As Catholics we must be informed on the issue, lobby our elected officials and speak out. As Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”