The , , has spoken during the Second
Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill.
The full transcript is below:
"My Lords, I am grateful to and listened with great
attention to her extremely powerful speech. This is an issue on
which many of us have personal experiences, often painful and
difficult.
"There is unanimity on these benches that our current law does
not need to be changed, but I know that people of faith hold
differing views and no doubt we will hear those today and I look
forward to them.
"Everyone here shares the best of intentions. We should recognise
that in how we listen and respond to each other. I hope that no
one will seek to divide the House today, but I do welcome Lord
Winston’s amendment, because it draws our focus towards our use
of language. We need clarity and precision in our terms.
"Christ calls his followers to compassion. But compassion must
not be drawn too narrowly, a point made indirectly and powerfully
by .
"It must extend beyond those who want the law to provide help to
end their lives, to the whole of society; especially those who
might be put at risk.
"Our choices affect other people. The common good demands that
our choices, rights and freedoms must be balanced with those of
others, especially those who may not be so easily
heard.
"Sadly, I believe this Bill to be unsafe. As a curate and parish
priest I spent time with the dying, the sick and the bereaved. I
still do. All of us have personal experience. I have as well.
"We know that the sad truth is that not all people are perfect,
not all families are happy, not everyone is kind and
compassionate.
"No amount of safeguards can perfect the human heart, no amount
of regulation can make a relative kinder or a doctor
infallible.
"No amount of reassurance can make a vulnerable or disabled
person feel equally safe, equally valued, if the law is changed
in this way.
"All of us here are united in wanting compassion and dignity for
those coming to the end of their lives.
But it does not serve compassion if by granting the wishes of one
closest to me, I expose others to danger.
"And it does not serve dignity if in granting the wishes of one
closest to me I devalue the status and safety of others.
"I hope your Lordships will reflect, and while recognising the
good intentions we all share, resist the change this Bill seeks
to make."
