Thousands of Christians across the UK have united together in prayer against two proposals to introduce assisted suicide in Great Britain.
On Tuesday 25 March, The Christian Institute, Affinity, CARE, the Christian Medical Fellowship and the Evangelical Alliance invited Christians to encourage their church and friends to join a National Day Of Prayer on the issue.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults Bill, which is expected to begin Report Stage on 25 April, would allow patients in England and Wales deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live to receive help to kill themselves. A similar Bill in Scotland, pushed by Liam McArthur MSP, is likely to be considered on 22 May.
‘Hope and love’
Thousands gathered online and in groups, with the Institute hosting three times of prayer on YouTube.
One user wrote: “Dear Father God who loves all of His creation, assist us to live not kill ourselves, please give hope to those who feel desperate enough to not want be here anymore and please give a conscience and foresight to those who vote on such matters in Jesus name. Amen!”
kindle in us the fire of your love for the old and vulnerable
Another added: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love for the old and vulnerable.”
Keep praying
The Institute’s Director, Ciarán Kelly, said it was “very encouraging to see so many people praying together”.
“I want to thank everyone who prayed whether at our online sessions or elsewhere, and especially those churches which even changed the timing of their prayer meetings to be more closely involved.
“This really is an issue that people have taken to heart because we all know someone who is going to be placed under intolerable pressure to go down the assisted suicide route for fear of being a burden to their loved ones.”
Mr Kelly emphasised: “There is still a long way to go. More amendments will be considered at the Report Stage on 25 April. The Third Reading vote could be as early as 16 May. We need to keep praying – and contacting our MPs – until this Bill has finally been killed off.”
‘Vote against it’
Earlier this week, a group of Leadbeater’s colleagues urged the rest of the Labour party to oppose her assisted suicide Bill.
the Bill is irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law
Antonia Bance, Meg Hillier, Jess Asato, Florence Eshalomi, James Frith, and Melanie Ward, said the promise that the Committee would strengthen the Bill was not kept.
“We have followed the committee stage closely, and cannot recommend a vote in favour of this Bill in its remaining stages. Our view is that the Bill is irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law.”
They concluded that the Bill puts “the most vulnerable people in society at unacceptable risk” and “we urge MPs to vote against it”.
‘Assisted suicide is the antidote to life’: Committee hears final arguments