The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other right, is the right to life itself. This is true of life from the moment of conception until its natural end (Pope Benedict XVI).

Latest on Assisted Suicide

The Lords debated raising the age for assisted suicide to 25 in England and Wales noting that

• The Children’s commissioner has significant concern of risks to vulnerable young people, many of whom have had very challenging upbringings
• Recent influential reports highlighted that the brain doesn’t fully develop until 25 or even later

The sponsor agreed to look at additional safeguards – a rare concession to those opposing the Leadbetter bill. The Scotland bill currently states 18-year-olds can access assisted suicide. Monica Lennon MSP has now told members of parish Pro Life Group she will not be providing a response to our challenge on the evidence for her statement to Holyrood and other related questions on her voting for this bill, despite promising to do so at our meeting. Prolife supporters believe assisted suicide is the most serious attack on the sanctity of life since the abortion legislation. She told us her staff were very busy with other work.

Many MSPs are out campaigning for votes for next May’s election so please try and meet them to tell them that you want them to treat this life and death issue as a top priority and vote against the bill. If just 7 MSPs switch their vote this bill can be defeated. But we need all parishioners to raise their voices to stop this becoming law. So, keep praying and contact your MSPs for a meeting or by telephone. If you can’t contact them, send a letter but if you can, please copy and paste the text to your own email address and personalise it as much as possible. Use these links: Care Not Killing

Update on the work of the Pro Life Group

Each Wed morning the Rosary will be offered up for the protection of all life from conception to natural death. We are also looking at other initiatives to increase prayer for the sanctity of life as well as to inform and involve parishioners in the Pro Life movement.