Assisted Dying

In the light of the recent debate in parliament which is now set to continue over the the next few months, the PCC at St Mary Redcliffe asked for our staff and welcomers to be provided with an FAQ on the matter should visitors open up a conversation on the matter.

This is what we gave out:

Question        Should I go through with assisted dying?
Comment        Best not to get drawn into a conversation about personal circumstances
Answer            Would you like some information about people who might be able to help you?

Question        Where does St Mary Redcliffe stand?
Comment
Answer            As a large, diverse church we recognise that there will be many views amongst the members of this church. What the vicar said in a recent sermon is that we might like to pray for all those involved in making this very difficult decision.

Question        Where does the church stand? Or Why does the church vote against it?
Comment        It does seem to be the case that the general population is in favour of assisted dying whereas all the faiths have come out against
Answer            Along with all the major faiths in UK, the Church of England is against assisted dying and seeks to uphold the value of life throughout life.

Question        What will happen to me?
Comment        The thinking behind this question will be clear to the individual but begs a wide variety of interpretation. It is probably best to seek to point the individual to specialist help, but if you feel able to engage in a deeper conversation start by asking “Tell me a bit more about what you mean by that?”
Answer             Would you like some information about people who might be able to help you?

Question        My x is very ill, should I proceed
Comment        Best not to get drawn into a conversation about personal circumstances
Answer             Would you like some information about people who might be able to help you?

Question        What would Jesus say / how does the bible approach this? 
Comment       
Answer            Along with many contemporary issues not dreamt of in Jesus’ time, Jesus has nothing to say directly about this – which is one of the reasons it’s so hard to know what the right thing is.

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