Cardinal calls all Catholics to ‘holy hour’ of prayer to defeat assisted suicide Bill

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has called for Catholics in England and Wales to join him and fellow bishops to pray for a “holy hour” next week for the defeat of the Bill to legalise assisted suicide.

The bishops will gather together from 5:30pm on Wednesday November 13 to pray before the Most Holy Eucharist that the dignity of human life is protected and that the House of Commons rejects the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill of Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley when it is put to a vote on November 29 after a Second Reading debate.

Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and the president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, is encouraging Catholics to join in prayer at the same time – either in their own homes or before the Blessed Sacrament in their own parish churches.

“We offer our prayers this holy hour for the dignity of human life,” said Cardinal Nichols in a video message.

“In particular our focus is on the end of life and praying together in front of the Blessed Sacrament that assisted suicide will not become law in our lands.

This would greatly diminish the importance and innate value of every human person, akin to saying that our life is not a gift of God.

“Instead we would be asserting that life is our own possession to do with as we choose. But we are far more important than that.

“We are a gift of God – a gift that is freely given. Then, when God is ready, we are called back to Him.”

During the holy hour, Cardinal Nichols wants the Church to pray that hearts and minds will be open to the truth about the value, importance, and beauty of every human person.

“We pray passionately that we will not take a step in legislation that promotes a so-called ‘right to die’,” he said.

“That will quite likely become a duty to die and place pressure on doctors and medical staff to help take life rather than to care, protect, and heal.”

The Cardinal added: “When you are praying, please remember those who offer such care and accompaniment to people facing their last days and hours.

“Especially pray for those who work in palliative care – nurses, doctors, people who are home visitors. They do a wonderful job with care and compassion, but they need more resources.

“That is what we should be investing in, not a piece of legislation that leaves us vulnerable and under pressure to seek an end to our life.”

Concluding his message, Cardinal Nichols said: “This is an important moment in our history. Please write to your MP and express your view. Many have not yet made up their minds how to vote.

“May God bless us all, bless our countries, and bless those who make our laws with courage to embrace and uphold a culture of life.”

The bishops have made available two sheets of suggested readings, intercessions and reflections for use in the holy hour which can be downloaded here:

Holy Hour on the Dignity of Life A4

Readers can also visit the bishops’ page of resources on assisted suicide for more information about why the Church opposes assisted suicide, and how to quickly and easily contact MPs.

(Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk)

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