UK assisted dying bill running out of time

By CathNews New Zealand

March 3rd, 2026

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An assisted dying bill in the United Kingdom is set to lapse as time runs out for it to be passed by that nation’s House of Lords. Source: The Tablet.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a private member’s bill which would legalise assisted suicide for those with up to six months left to live, was voted through by the House of Commons. But more than 1200 amendments to the Bill have been tabled in the Lords.

All legislation that is not passed before a May deadline automatically fails.

There are six remaining sitting days before the King’s speech in May, and the Labour chief whip in the House of Lords, Roy Kennedy, said last week that the UK government would not give the assisted dying bill more time.

If another MP reintroduces the Bill after the King’s speech, then the Bill would have to go through all the Commons stages again before it could go back to the Lords.

Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington, the lead bishop for life issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, encouraged the faithful to pray throughout Lent for the parliamentarians debating the Bill, as well as for those who are suffering near the end of their lives and those who care for them.

Archbishop Sherrington said: “We are facing the threat of a profound change in our culture which would happen if assisted suicide were to be legalised.

“This bill is wrong in principle as assisted suicide is the direct taking of life. In practice, the bill is a threat to truly compassionate care at the end of life.

“In its current form, it would require Christian hospices and care homes to co-operate with the act of assisted suicide. The conscience clauses are also woefully inadequate. Moreover, as many voices have articulated in the debate, and as has been seen in other countries, assisted suicide will put the lives of the vulnerable at risk.”

In the Easter season, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales will hold a Holy Hour on Sunday, April 19, to pray for the promotion of a culture of life.

FULL STORY

Assisted dying bill on track to fall as archbishop urges prayer for parliamentarians (By Aili Winstanley Channer/The Tablet)