Capital minister challenges Kirk's opposition to assisted dying bill

AN EDINBURGH minister today challenged the Church of Scotland's blanket opposition to assisted dying and said he believed there were occasions when it could be right to help someone end their life.

The Rev Scott McKenna of Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church in Newington spoke out as the General Assembly was asked to reaffirm the Church's opposition to any legislation that allows assisted dying.

A report by the Kirk's church and society council on Margo MacDonald's End of Life Assistance Bill, currently before the Scottish Parliament, said the legislation would "violate the sanctity of life".

The bill proposed by the independent MSP for Lothians would allow people with a terminal illness or degenerative condition whose lives have become intolerable to ask for assistance to end their life, subject to a range of safeguards.

The Kirk report said: "It cannot be too strongly emphasised that this bill proposes fundamental changes to the whole basis on which we provide care for patients in our country and thus has implications for all of society as to how we view precious human life."

But Mr McKenna said there was more than one Christian view on the issue and accused the Church of being dogmatic.

He said the Church was arguing there were no circumstances in which it would be right to bring a life to a close. "That is not a tenable position. This is about dignity and choice.

"There is another Christian perspective on this matter, one that will not deny an individual the right to honour their God-given value and dignity through deciding themselves the manner in which they die.

"Powerlessness is one of the most dehumanising aspects of being a patient, of being incapacitated in some way, and to have your decision-making taken away at a crucial moment of your life – that is, the moment of your death – seems to me to be a supreme indignity that no-one should suffer, if at all possible. God has given us the power of reason and the power to take responsibility for our decisions."

The Rev Ian Galloway, convener of the Kirk's church and society council, said the Church had a long history of opposing anything resembling euthanasia. He added: "This is not a case of trying to block a few individuals. What we are saying is the impact of this legislation is not beneficial to the whole of society."