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Britain 'no longer Christian country' after assisted dying vote, says bishop

by Anna Rees
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A Catholic Bishop has said that Britain is no longer a Christian country after MPs voted in favour of changing laws on assisted dying.

The Bishop of Portsmouth, Philip Egan, wrote an advent letter to his diocese after MPs voted by a majority of 55 to permit assisted dying for people with a prognosis of six months or less to live, provided they have the approval of two doctors and a judge.

“Although not unexpected, this vote poses a grave danger. Britain is now crossing a line from which there will be no return,” he wrote.

“To be a Christian in future will not be easy, if ever it was.

“More and more, as in ages past, we will stand out from the crowd and from others in our society who see human life, its dignity and value, in a radically different way.”

Kim Leadbeater MP, who proposed the bill, insists that the legislation is intended to be compassionate.

Prior to the vote, she met with religious leaders including the Bishop of London, Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, as well as former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, who is in favour of the bill.

Speaking on assisted dying in 2002, Lord Carey said a change in law was “necessary, compassionate and principled”.

Bishop Egan told his diocese: “As people of reason and people of faith, we know [the Terminally Ill Adults Bill] is a truly bad move. It will put pressure on the elderly and the dying, making them feel they are a burden.”

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