Nine days of prayer to help defeat attempt to legalise assisted suicide

Votive Candles

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales invite the faithful to pray a novena, nine days of prayer, seeking the intercession of Pope Saint John Paul II, to help defeat the ‘Assisted Dying Bill 2021’.

The Bill will receive its Second Reading, with full debate, in the House of Lords on 22 October. If successful, it will allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, assistance to commit suicide.

Prayer and Care

In the lead up to the Second Reading, from Thursday 14 October, Catholics are encouraged to pray the novena with daily intentions to uphold the infinite worth of each human person through proper investment in palliative care.

Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, said:

“Jesus told his disciples to pray at all times and not lose heart. Providentially the discussion of Baroness Meacher’s Bill in the House of Lords falls on the feast of Saint John Paul II on 22 October.

“The novena, asking the intercession of Pope Saint John Paul II, who spoke courageously about the infinite worth of each human person and witnessed to the cross in his final illness, calls upon Catholics and all who share our view that assisted suicide is wrong, to pray with perseverance that this Bill will be defeated.

“Saint John Paul II, pray for us!”