Marsha de Cordova, a Christian MP and the Second Church Estates Commissioner has highlighted the role of churches in hospice care and urged the government to increase hospice support.
Speaking ahead of a historic debate which saw MPs vote in favour of introducing assisted dying for adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live, the MP for Battersea told the House of Commons: “Churches nationwide provide counselling and chaplaincy services to hospices, patients and their families.
“Many hospices started off as church-affiliated institutions… these are now largely affiliated to Hospice UK."
She highlighted that at present, only third of hospices receive state funding. The remaining funding comes from charitable donations.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner told the House she was concerned that implementing the Terminally Ill Adults Bill would further divert funds from end-of-life care.
Other key Christian figures have been responding to the vote.
Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said he was "deeply disappointed" by the development.
"This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation," he added.
"Over recent weeks we have stood side by side with other faith groups, disability groups, medics, lawyers, and countless members of the public highlighting the significant shortcomings of this bill.
“Sadly, this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion. We will continue to work to ensure that the bill does not become law. Many of those who voted in favour expressed concerns about safeguards and the workability of the law. In the coming months, as the bill is considered further, we will continue to engage and hold MPs to account if their hopes for the bill’s improvement are not met.
“When the bill returns for further votes next year, we will continue to campaign against the principle of this bill and advocate for the best protections for the most vulnerable in our society.”
Ross Hendry, CEO of Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) commented:
“Today’s vote is deeply troubling, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised people in England and Wales who are fearful of a change in the law.
“Legalising assisted suicide would diminish the value we ascribe to human life in our legislation and our institutions and create a two-tier society where suicide prevention doesn’t extend to all people. This would be a moral failure, and a huge step backwards.
“As with other assisted suicide Bills in the past, there are no safeguards in this Bill that will rule out coercion of vulnerable people, and people ending their lives because they feel like a burden or lack proper support. There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ assisted suicide law.
“Parliament does have a responsibility to build better support for those who are dying but not through this dangerous Bill. We need a national conversation on how we ensure excellent, universally accessible end-of-life and palliative care, and stronger support for marginalised groups.
“We would urge parliamentarians to focus on this positive endeavour, and dismiss the dangerous, and disproven campaign for assisted suicide.”