Cytûn encourages prayerful reflection on assisted dying proposals in Wales
Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales – is drawing attention to a recent statement by the Archbishop of Cardiff and Menevia, the Most Reverend Mark O’Toole, who has urged Catholics in Wales to oppose proposals to legalise assisted suicide. The Archbishop’s message comes as the Senedd prepares to consider whether to grant Legislative Consent to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill—legislation currently progressing through the UK Parliament.
The Bill, often referred to as the Leadbeater Bill, would legalise assisted dying across England and Wales. While criminal law remains a reserved matter for Westminster, health services and implementation fall within devolved responsibilities. The Senedd is therefore required to decide whether to give consent for the relevant health provisions to apply in Wales. It is not clear when this process will take place in the Senedd, particularly as the May 2026 election approach.
In light of this, Cytûn is encouraging its member denominations, associated organisations, and individuals more widely to prayerfully consider their response to both the Senedd’s Legislative Consent process and the call made by Archbishop O’Toole and the Catholic Church in Wales.
A Cytûn briefing document has been provided as background to the constitutional and ethical issues raised by the proposals, including the potential impact on palliative care, conscientious objection rights, and the responsibilities of health professionals in Wales.
Dr Cynan Llwyd, Cytûn’s General Secretary, said:
“This debate reaches to the heart of how we care for the most vulnerable in our society. Churches across Wales bring a wealth of pastoral experience in accompanying people through serious illness and end-of-life care. Cytûn urges all our member bodies to study the proposals carefully, consider their ethical and practical implications, and engage thoughtfully and prayerfully with their representatives in the Senedd.”
Cytûn will continue to monitor developments in the Legislative Consent process and encourages all member churches to ensure that their views are expressed respectfully and clearly as Wales considers this sensitive and significant issue.
For further background, see the Cytûn briefing: Assisted Dying Bill and the Senedd Legislative Consent Motion.