Archbishop urges people to ‘strongly oppose’ assisted dying legislation ahead of next election [Video]

THE LEADER OF the Catholic Church in Ireland has described the introduction of laws to permit assisted dying as “an affront” to a safe and protective society. 

Archbishop Eamon Martin today said such legislation should be “strongly opposed” and urged people to contact their TDs and senators about the matter ahead of the next General Election, which is to be held before March next year. 

This week, the final report of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will be discussed in the Dáil.

The report, which was published in March, recommended that the Government introduce legislation allowing the practice, but not without a long list of conditions. 

Most of the 38 recommendations made in the report focused on ensuring safeguards are in place to prevent people from being coerced into ending their lives, or from making a decision to end their life without being fully capable of doing so.

The Committee recommended that such coercion be …