The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has spoken during the Second Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill. Here is the full transcript: "My Lords, I am grateful to Baroness Meacher and listened with great attention to her extremely powerful speech. This is an issue on which many of us have personal experiences, often painful and difficult."There is unanimity on these benches that our current law does not need to be changed, but I know that people of faith hold differing views and no doubt we will hear those today and I look forward to them. "Everyone here shares the best of intentions. We should recognise that in how we listen and respond to each other. I hope that no one will seek to divide the House today, but I do welcome Lord Winston’s amendment, because it draws our focus towards our use of language. We need clarity and precision in our terms."Christ calls his followers to compassion. But compassion must not be drawn too narrowly, a point made indirectly and powerfully by Baroness Meacher."It must extend beyond those who want the law to provide help to end their lives, to the whole of society; especially those who might be put at risk. "Our choices affect other people. The common good demands that our choices, rights and freedoms must be balanced with those of others, especially those who may not be so easily heard. "Sadly, I believe this Bill to be unsafe. As a curate and parish priest I spent time with the dying, the sick and the bereaved. I still do. All of us have personal experience. I have as well."We know that the sad truth is that not all people are perfect, not all families are happy, not everyone is kind and compassionate."No amount of safeguards can perfect the human heart, no amount of regulation can make a relative kinder or a doctor infallible. "No amount of reassurance can make a vulnerable or disabled person feel equally safe, equally valued, if the law is changed in this way."All of us here are united in wanting compassion and dignity for those coming to the end of their lives.But it does not serve compassion if by granting the wishes of one closest to me, I expose others to danger."And it does not serve dignity if in granting the wishes of one closest to me I devalue the status and safety of others."I hope your Lordships will reflect, and while recognising the good intentions we all share, resist the change this Bill seeks to make."
New plans for a temporary annexe on grass at the rear of the church have been submitted to the city council to provide space for children and young people's worship.Church officials say there is an "urgent need" for more accommodation to cater for a boom in attendances since the Grade II* listed Minster underwent a radical change of style two years ago aimed at a younger audience.When the new Vicar of Preston Rev Sam Haigh took over in September 2019 the church's congregation was dwindling. Now Sunday services, featuring guitars, drums and keyboard, average 165 worshippers, a figure which is expected to grow to around 400 in the next two years.The Minster is hoping to build a permanent annexe within five years, subject to funding. So in the meantime it has asked for planning permission to place a temporary modular cabin in the churchyard at the back to bridge that gap."Preston Minster is now a young and fast-growing church," says a planning statement. "The church has continued to grow through the Covid-19 pandemic."It is anticipated that the Minster will grow to an average congregation of 200 to 250 by mid-2022 .... and is set to grow to around 400 in the next two years."A significant proportion of this growth is children and young people, creating an urgent need for ancillary space to accommodate this alongside the Sunday service."The report says that despite a "thriving children's ministry" the Minster only has space for up to 25 children.It says that the lack of space has placed "great strains" on the facilities, offset during the summer by the erection of a marquee at the rear of the church. But with winter approaching the need for indoor accommodation "is becoming increasingly urgent."The change of direction came in 2019 when £1.5m of funding was allocated to transform the Church of England in Preston and re-invigorate the Minster. A radical style of worship was introduced, while more traditional services were switched to its sister church St George's off Lune Street.The new Vicar, a former car mechanic, promised a "significant shift" in style with contemporary services, reaching out to people under 25, particularly the city's huge student population.Since lockdown was lifted and the church has been able to return to live worship, the attendances have been steadily growing.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster have warned of the risk to vulnerable people should Parliament back a new attempt to change the law on assisted suicide.In a joint letter to peers, Archbishop Justin Welby, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, speak of their ‘profound disquiet’ over the Assisted Dying Bill, ahead of its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday. The Private Member's Bill, tabled by Baroness Meacher, proposes legalising assisted suicide for terminally ill people with under six months to live.The three faith leaders highlight the risks and dangers entailed in the provisions of the Bill and the ‘real-life’ practical inadequacies of its proposed safeguards.The common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions, they warn. They appeal for people of all faiths and none to join with them through the ‘common bond of humanity’ in caring for the most vulnerable in society.In contrast to the Bill, the faith leaders call for measures to make high-quality palliative care available to all at the end of their lives. The aim of a compassionate society should be ‘assisted living’ rather than an acceptance of assisted suicide, they note.“By the faiths we profess, we hold every human life to be a precious gift of the Creator, to be upheld and protected. “All people of faith, and those of none, can share our concern that the common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions. “We appeal to people of whatever faith or belief to join us through our common bond of humanity in caring for the most vulnerable people within our society. “In contrast to the proposals in this Bill, we continue to call for measures to make high-quality palliative care available to all at the end of their lives. “We believe that the aim of a compassionate society should be assisted living rather than an acceptance of assisted suicide.”
