Assisted Dying - again

Some of you may remember that I wrote about Lord Joffe's bill back in May 2003. One can admire his persistence - the bill failed the first time round but Lord Joffe's trying again. But persistence is also a Christian virtue (have you noticed that ‘overcome’ or ‘conquer’ is the exhortation that is common to all seven letters to the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3?), so I thought you might like to be reminded to express again your concerns to government.

This is the letter that the Christian Medical Fellowship are circulating:

Dear All,

Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill bill, which seeks to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales, is due for its second reading in the House of Lords on 12 May. We are strongly opposed to this bill and believe it to be a deeply flawed piece of legislation that will put the most vulnerable members of society at serious risk.

A petition against the bill was launched on the Care Not Killing website (www.carenotkilling.org.uk/petition) on Thursday 13 April. If you share our concerns please visit the website. It only takes a few moments to sign. To enable those without internet access to sign, and to take to churches or workplaces, you can download a petition form from the website which can be mailed in once complete.

Please spread the word and join us in gathering support by forwarding this message to sympathetic friends, family, work colleagues and others. The petition will be delivered to 10 Downing Street on 12 May.

Many thanks

Peter Saunders General Secretary Christian Medical Fellowship Email pjs@cmf.org.uk

If you would like to re-read my earlier reflection, it's at www.allbelievers.org/change/reflections/28-5-03.htm.

Yours in Christ

Peter Nicholls

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