Jersey’s decision to legalise assisted dying has been branded “fundamentally subversive, horrific and dangerous” by a senior Catholic bishop, who has warned the island risks abandoning its most vulnerable citizens.
Last week, Jersey became only the second place in the British Isles to permit assisted dying after States Members voted 32–16 in favour of detailed legislation.
The law – expected to come into force in late 2027 – will allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults who have lived in Jersey for at least 12 months to end their lives.
Whilst many celebrated the news as compassionate progress, Bishop of Portsmouth Philip Egan said he was “greatly disturbed” by the outcome.
“It demonstrates a woeful lack of interest in protecting the most vulnerable people in our society and it fundamentally changes the role of doctors and medical staff,” he said in a strongly worded statement.
The Bishop aligned himself with concerns raised during the debate by Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache, who said: “I fear that it will change the community of Jersey in a way in which we may not yet be able to foresee.”
Quoting the Biblical commandment “thou shalt not kill” and the injunction to “love thy neighbour as thyself”, Bishop Egan said that opposition to assisted suicide is not simply a matter of Catholic doctrine but a moral principle underpinning all civilised societies.
He rejected the description of assisted dying as “mercy killing”, insisting that it is “fundamentally subversive, horrific and dangerous, however well-intentioned”.
Bishop Egan added: “Assisting someone to die prematurely or to commit suicide, even when they earnestly request it, can never ever be a compassionate action. It is a grave sin.
“We must not yield to the temptation to apply rapid solutions, moved by false compassion or by the criteria of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
“Instead, we need to show respect and tenderness to patients who are seriously ill so that the sacred value of their life can shine forth with splendour in their suffering.”
Rather than legislating to end life, he said, the Island should focus on expanding and properly resourcing palliative care.
The Bishop also pointed to the experience of countries including Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada, where assisted-dying laws were initially introduced under strict conditions but later broadened.
“What begins as a limited provision for the terminally ill has, in several jurisdictions now, been considerably extended to include chronic illness, psychiatric conditions, and in some cases non-terminal suffering even for the very young.”
“This is unconscionable,” he said, warning that once the law signals that some lives may be ended in response to suffering, elderly, disabled and isolated people may begin to feel pressure – whether subtle or overt – to see themselves as a burden.
“The Catholic Church is clear that we can never assist in taking the life of another, even if they request it,” he added, citing the Church’s catechism, which describes euthanasia as “morally unacceptable” and “gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person”.
Bishop Egan concluded with a call to prayer for medical professionals and carers, expressing hope they would “never be expected to administer lethal injections or deadly drugs to the patients under their care”.