The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said that it “totally rejects” a recommendation the incoming government should legalise assisted suicide in restricted circumstances.
Speaking before Ireland’s general election on Friday, 29 November, the bishops said in a statement: “Over recent years, we have witnessed a diminution in the respect for human life in our political discourse.” “The value of people’s lives seems to be calculated as if it were simply part of a cost-benefit analysis. Where is the hope in this?” they challenged.
They suggested that as well as questioning candidates about their stance on assisted suicide, voters should also question them about their position on abor-tion. Since the introduction of what they termed “a very liberal abortion law” in 2018, 40,000 abortions have been carried out in Ireland.
The bishops noted that some politicians want to liberalise the abortion law, while efforts are made to make legislative provision for assisted dying. “We totally reject that recommendation because a fundamental principle of civilised society is that no person can lawfully take the life of another,” they said.