In a matter of hours, the upper house of parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Lords, will begin debating Lord Falconer’s assisted dying bill. The bill would allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to patients who wish to end their lives. We should all be in prayer as this debate begins, that life remains protected and valued from natural conception until natural death.
Sadly two Anglican Archbishops have voiced their support of passing this assisted dying bill. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey and former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu have both come out in favor of the bill. Desmond Tutu said that life that is ending should not be prolonged, that those dying should “make way for those yet to be born.” This is a horrible thing to suggest; that somehow life with disabilities or suffering is not worth living. Lord Carey expressed similar statements: “Today we face a central paradox. In strictly observing the sanctity of life, the Church could now actually be promoting anguish and pain, the very opposite of a Christian message of hope.” This argument is disgusting and absurd. Promoting life as having intrinsic value does not mean the Church supports, approves of, or wants to promote suffering and anguish. Lord Carey and Desmond Tutu need to realize that the inherent dignity of life far outweighs any suffering we may have to endure on this earth as a consequence of The Fall.
Thankfully other Christian voices are strongly opposing this bill. Christian Concern and the organization Not Dead Yet are promoting a rally outside of Parliament tomorrow to show the peers in the House of Lords that life, even with disabilities and suffering, is worth living, supporting and protecting. Let us pray that this rally will promote the clear message that assisting disabled patients to end their lives is unacceptable, and that even a life with disabilities is worth living.
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