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,
Friday 29 May 6.30pm , English Martyrs Catholic Church, Goring-by-Sea, BN12 4UH. People across our community of faith are invited to join Worthing Deanery Justice & Peace Group and pray for peace in our world. The Mass, celebrated by Fr Liam O’Connor, will offer an opportunity to pray for all those impacted by war, and for healing. All are welcome, there is no need to book.
This Holy Hour has been arranged to take place at 5.30pm (Rome time) on the Sunday afternoon of the Spring Plenary of the Bishops’ Conference (19 April). We can unite ourselves with the prayer of the Bishops (4.30pm UK Time) wherever we are. More details can be found at: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/holyhour-for-the-dignity-of-life/ .
This Sunday we welcome families who have had Baptisms in our parish in recent years. All are welcome to the Parish Room on Sunday after mass to come together for refreshments and celebrate this special sacrament. If you are interested in finding out more about Baptism or any of the sacraments, come along and speak to Deacon Simon or Father Graham.
How come the disciples did not recognise Jesus? They were so close to him, they heard him speak, they heard him explain things, probably in the same way that He had explained things in the recent past; or were they too busy chatting about what had happened to them, too wrapped up in their own difficulties? But Jesus did something that was unmistakable. “He took the bread and said the blessing; then He broke it and handed it to them”; and at this moment when they received their first Holy Communion their eyes were opened. Even today an encounter with the wounded Christ can still has the power to transform. The example that springs to mind is Sr. Theresa of Calcutta whose encounter with the wounded Christ, present in the poor and the homeless of India, transformed her life and transformed the lives of the people that she was able to help. This raises several difficult questions. Is the wounded Christ present here today in Adur Valley? If so where and in whom? And most worryingly am I too wrapped up in my own difficulties, too busy chatting about me and my problems, that I fail to recognise Jesus in the poor and the homeless? Let us pray that in receiving Holy Communion this weekend our eyes and our hearts are opened to the wounded Christ, who can transform our lives and help us to transform the lives of those who need His help. With my prayers for you all, Deacon Simon
Our thanks go to one of our very talented parishioners, who has created this beautiful display, depicting the tomb of our Lord. We encourage you to come and spend some time here. We have some cards listing some of the important details to look for. Please take one away with you.
For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. We pray and ponder on these words, taken from the Divine Mercy Chaplet, remembering our witness of Christ’s suffering and death on Good Friday. This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. Starting at 3pm at St Peter’s, we will be observing a Holy Hour for Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Confessions, followed by Benediction at 4.00pm. Something in common with many people’s testimonies of faith, is how they only managed to connect to Jesus when they gave over the time to allow Him in. In our noisy, busy lives, we rarely have time to stop and listen to stillness. This Sunday could be the perfect opportunity for you. All are welcome.
Reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday from St Faustina’s Diary "I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy...... tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy. ... My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy. Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy." (Diary 300) "I am love and mercy itself. ... Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. ... My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the entire world. ... I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come then with trust to draw graces from this fountain. ... The graces of My mercy are drawn by the means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive." A joyful Divine mercy Sunday. With my prayer. God bless you. Fr Graham.
It is easy to struggle with hope especially when we read the news. Yet hope is not merely a vague optimism. Hope is one of the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love. It is therefore much deeper than a feeling. It is a choice and a grace that comes from God. This is where I struggle. My feelings waiver but I must continually choose to hope in God and to trust in Him. Otherwise, we can be led to despair. As Bonhoeffer said "Anyone who knows Easter cannot despair”. This is where our hope is founded. The despair of the cross of Jesus, the darkness of the tomb and mourning - a darkness like no other. If this week ended there then there would be no hope. There is no real hope without Jesus. But this is the crucified and risen Jesus. God does not avoid pain and suffering or even the reality of death. He faces it head on in Jesus who is really God and a man. So, we have hope in Jesus because He changes and gives meaning and even hope in all that oppresses us including sin and evil. Without the crucified and risen Jesus, we are still condemned. This is also why the Divine Mercy Novena and chaplet is so powerful and meaningful to me. Saint Faustina was commissioned by Jesus to be His secretary of Mercy, to share this message around the world. The novena starts on Good Friday, from where all blessings flow. The concluding prayer speaks to me every time. It changes my despondency into hope. Please pray it and the Novena with me. Jesus is crucified and risen. To Him be glory for ever.
Divine Mercy Novena: starting on Good Friday We will begin The Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday, nine days of prayer in preparation for the feast on Sunday 12th April. You can follow the Divine Mercy Novena using the leaflets we have in the church porch, or a good online resource is PrayMoreNovenas.com to get a daily novena prayer sent to your inbox or ask Patsy at patsydaniels@gmail.com to send you details. What is Divine Mercy Sunday? Jesus made a promise to us via St Faustina that the person who receives the Eucharist in a state of grace on the 8th day of the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter) now known as Divine Mercy Sunday will have all sins and punishment forgiven, if he asks for It. This equates to a second baptism, as stated by Fr Chris Alar a Marian father at the Divine Mercy shrine in Massachusetts in this 3.5 minute video . He suggests we say the following words or something similar when we return to our bench after receiving Holy Communion: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You promised St Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession [I have] and the soul that receives Holy Communion with trust in Divine Mercy [I have] will receive complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Lord, please give me this grace. Jesus I trust in You.” This feast incorporating this most generous of gifts was inaugurated by St John Paul Il in the year 2000 when he instituted Divine Mercy Sunday.
As last year we will come together as a united parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace to celebrate the Sacred Triduum. For practical reasons, the best place to do this is St Peter’s in Shoreham. I hope that people from all parts of the parish will want to be involved in the liturgy. We need welcomers, volunteers for feet washing, readers, servers, people to keep watch (on Thursday evening), and singers. I’d like to have a team of people fully representing our wonderful parish. If you can help (including offering lifts to fellow parishioners), please email the office or leave a message 01273 452654. All are welcome.