Pastoral Letter from Bishop Richard April 2025
Webmaster • April 4, 2025
Bishop of Arundel & Brighton
Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of England & Wales
on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
5/6 April 2025
Fifth Sunday of Lent
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I wish to speak with you today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I have made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.
The passage of the Bill through Parliament will lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.
There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.
One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended.
What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?
In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.
It is a sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.
I am sure that you will share these concerns. It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.
Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.
In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’.
We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.
May God bless you all,
Throughout Lent, please bring your personal prayer intentions to our Prayer Boxes (both at St Peter’s and CTK). At St Peter’s, we already have the Prayer Tree, located in the Divine Mercy Chapel, which is regularly used by parishioners and visitors throughout the day. We have added a Prayer Box here, and one at CTK (in the entrance porch). You are warmly invited to write your personal prayer intentions on a small card and place them in the Prayer Box. If you are unable to get to church, you can email them to the office for inclusion, or via the contact form on our website. The names and intentions placed in the Prayer Boxes and on the Prayer Tree will usually be offered at the First Friday Mass, united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After this Mass, the Prayer Box will be refreshed for the following month. Please note: the prayer intentions will remain private. They will not be read aloud. The aim is to ensure that our intentions remain current and meaningful
Saturday 18 July 12 noon – 4.15pm , Church of Our Lady of Consolation & St Francis, West Grinstead, RH13 8LT. A pilgrimage for people across our diocese - the day includes Holy Mass, a personal Consecration to Our Lady, the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, Exposition, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Adoration and Benediction. There is no need to book, to find out more contact Linda C-Dominguez T:01273463463 or M:07944377252. Please bring a packed lunch.
The Bishops’ Conference invites us to join in the Novena in preparation for the forthcoming Day for Life. The Novena will run from Saturday 23 May to the Feast of the Visitation (Sunday 31 May). This is the third year in which the Dioceses of England and Wales will join with those of Scotland and Ireland to pray this Novena. The Novena is found here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/ novena-for-life/ .
On the Bishops' Conference Day for Life there will be a short service of prayer at the Memorial at Arundel Catholic Cemetery, 6 London Road Arundel BN18 9AT to pray for all those affected by the loss of a child at or before birth and for the promotion of a culture of life. The theme this year is The Wonder of the Child in the Womb. See: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/day-for-life/ All welcome, refreshments afterwards in the hall.
Adur Valley Catenians are pleased to announce we have elected Adrian Gilbert as Circle President for the year 2026-27. Last year, we raised over £2000 for our nominated charity, Safe-In-Sussex. This year, we shall be supporting JustLife, a local charity supporting homeless people. We will be attending the 9.00am mass this Sunday, 31st May, and will be pleased to provide more information about our Association afterwards over coffee.
Come along on Saturday 6th June to watch a short film with a friendly group of fellow parishioners. We meet in the Parish Room at St Peters after Saturday mass and rosary. All are welcome.
Ann’s husband, Paul, has asked that people wear bright colours to Ann’s mass on Friday (no black). We are expecting a large turnout, so please note that the car park will be reserved for family only. Please allow extra time and park elsewhere on that day, thank you. All are welcome for refreshments in the Parish Room after the mass. There will be a collection for the SVP in Ann’s memory. If you cannot attend on the day, you can donate online at https://annolliver.muchloved.com/ or by scanning this QR code:
‘United in prayer we save our children’ ‘Mothers Prayers’ was launched in England in 1995. At that time, two grandmothers felt led by the Lord to pray in a special way for their children. The movement has spread throughout the world and is now in over 100 countries. Our parish group meets on the first Friday of the month, in the Parish Room at St Peter’s. Please note that on Friday 5th June , we will meet at the slightly earlier time of 9.30am . Open to all mothers, including spiritual mothers, godmothers and grandmothers. “As mothers learn to trust each other, through their prayers and sharing together, their burdens become lighter”.
OLQP First Holy Communion: 7th June 2026 Please pray for Antonia, Daniel, Nuala, Orlagh and Samuel, who are receiving their First Holy Communion next Sunday at St Peter’s. Please pray for their families and the catechists.
The Holy Trinity is less of a doctrine and more of a reality. We have the formal declarations and statements of Church councils, we have the Nicaean creed which we profess each Sunday, we have the writings of theologians and their correspondence with heretics through the ages. But as much as we seek to define this mystery it is a revelation from God who is Trinity, not a way for us to describe God. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17.28). Our mind may struggle to perceive but our heart enters in. Without God, without the reality of God who is Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), there is no salvation. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son.... that the world might be saved though Him". The Father sends the Son, to be made flesh through the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit. Salvation is Trinitarian. To be saved is to receive Christ and have Him dwelling in our souls. To have Jesus living within us is to have the Trinity, for they are One. This gift is given at baptism through faith. Do you know you have God living with you? Pure and perfect Love at the centre of your soul. Through prayer, the sacraments and obeying that voice of Love He manifests and grows more and more within us, until "It is not I who lives but Christ living in me" (Gal 2.20). This is the life of faith, hope and love that overflows into our hearts. There can be no greater aspiration. With my prayer for you on His Visitation to John the Baptist. God bless you. Fr Graham