Acting archbishop urges Church of England to resist assisted dying bill

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The acting head of the Church of England has called on its members to “withstand and even turn back” growing public and political support for assisted dying in the UK.

Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, made the remarks on Friday while addressing the General Synod, the church’s governing body.

Cottrell currently holds the second most senior clerical position in the Anglican Church and is serving as its de facto leader following the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby last year.

He warned that legalizing assisted dying would change “forever the contract between doctor and patient, pressurizing the vulnerable and assuming an authority over death that belongs to God alone.”

“When we lose something as foundational as decisions over life and death, we are in danger of losing other safeguards and provisions as well,” Cottrell said.

Last month, members of parliament voted to pass a bill legalizing assisted death for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.

The bill, passed by a margin of 314-291, is now set to move to the House of Lords, where 26 Anglican bishops sit by right, for further scrutiny. It is not expected to face significant resistance there.

If approved, the legislation would grant terminally ill individuals with fewer than six months to live the legal right to end their lives with medical assistance.

The process would require approval from two doctors and a review panel comprising a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a senior lawyer.