Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “I’m deeply disappointed parliament has voted to progress this bill to legalise assisted suicide. This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation. Over recent weeks we have stood side by side with other faith groups, disability groups, medics, lawyers, and countless members of the public highlighting the significant shortcomings of this bill.
Sadly, this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion. We will continue to work to ensure that the bill does not become law. Many of those who voted in favour expressed concerns about safeguards and the workability of the law. In the coming months, as the bill is considered further, we will continue to engage and hold MPs to account if their hopes for the bill’s improvement are not met.
When the bill returns for further votes next year, we will continue to campaign against the principle of this bill and advocate for the best protections for the most vulnerable in our society.”
ABOUT THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
We are the Evangelical Alliance. We join together hundreds of organisations, thousands of churches and tens of thousands of individuals for the sake of the gospel. Representing our members since 1846, the Evangelical Alliance is the oldest and largest evangelical unity movement in the UK. We love Jesus and we want everyone in the UK to be given an opportunity to know Him. We love His church, and we will do all we can to unite evangelicals, building confidence in the gospel and speaking as a trusted voice into society to see it changed for Him.
Working across the UK, with offices in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast, our members come together from across denominations, locations, age groups and ethnicities, all sharing a passion to know Jesus and make Him known.