So, like, check this out, right? Few votes in Holyrood can be described as free of partisan politics. Yet, Tuesday’s deliberation on the principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is one such case.
MSPs have been urged to ‘vote their conscience’.
In a secular Scotland, one can’t assume that one’s religion, whether Catholic, Protestant, or other; will necessarily influence the votes of individual members.
Yet, a survey of 53 MSPs carried out by Holyrood Magazine in 2023 found that 55% held religious faith and 65% believed they should have more freedom to vote with their conscience.
Several high-profile politicians are members of religious groups; including Humza Yousaf, who is Muslim, Kate Forbes, who attends the Free Church, and John Swinney, who is a member of the Church of Scotland.
Indeed, Scotland’s religious communities have expressed a range of opinions on the legislation, originally proposed by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, with many groups not coming to a settled position.
Here’s what some of them had to say ahead of the historic vote.
One of Scotland’s largest denominations, the Church of Scotland currently has 245,000 members and maintains around 1,100 churches.
A spokesperson said: “Our position on Assisted Dying is being reviewed as there is a diversity of opinion in the Church (as in wider society) and a report will be coming to the General Assembly on 19 May.”
The report states: “We acknowledge that [our position] moves the church away from a binary ‘for’ or ‘against’ approach. Some may argue that this ambiguity makes advocacy difficult, and that it may diminish the Church’s public witness.
“While these are valid concerns, we would respond that this approach more accurately reflects where we are currently as a Church on this matter.”
The Church of Scotland General Assembly will discuss the issue later this month (Image: Getty) More than 676,000 people identify as Roman Catholic in Scotland.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said: “The Catholic Church remains steadfast in its consistent opposition to assisted suicide and invites MSPs to commit to improving palliative care, protecting the vulnerable and upholding the dignity of life by voting against Liam McArthur’s Bill.”
A letter sent to parishioners across Scotland during mass last Sunday reads: “The Bishops of Scotland are calling the Catholic community to a Day of Prayer to pray for our parliamentarians to cast their vote to care and not to kill; and to pray for Catholics across Scotland to reach out to their MSPs and MPs to urge them to work to improve palliative care and reject assisted suicide.”
There are around 120,000 Muslims in Scotland. A spokesperson for the Scottish Association of Mosques pointed The Herald to a statement released in May 2023.
The statement reads: “We grieve with those who grieve and identify with those who suffer. We acknowledge the sincerely-held motivation of those seeking change, but do not believe that is the correct approach to the alleviation of suffering.
The ways in which similar laws in other countries are being applied, and the effect that its introduction would have on some of the most vulnerable in our society, including the disabled and the elderly, would be extremely detrimental.”
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf has often spoken about his deep Muslim faithThe Scottish Episcopal Church has 23,500 members.
A spokesperson said members of the church held a range of views on the issue.
They noted that two of the church’s committees made a joint response to the Scottish Government’s ‘Call for Views”, adding: “While the response reflects views and discussions on the matter of assisted dying within the Church, it does not represent the settled views of the Church as a whole. “The submission raises concerns about specific aspects of the legislation were it to be introduced, and explores fundamental questions about ‘dying well’.
“It offers partial opposition to the legislation, but does not firmly support or oppose the principle of assisted dying.”
The spokesperson said the issue would be discussed at the church’s General Synod in June. The Baptist Union of Scotland has 9,946 members across 156 churches. It opposes any change to the law.
General Director Martin Hodson noted: “We share a deep compassion for people who experience terrible pain and fear in their dying months. However, there is widespread concern among our churches about the Assisted Dying Bill because it clearly crosses a line between viewing human life as a sacred gift and treating it as a possession we have the right to extinguish.
“Once this line is crossed there are deep misgivings about how the legislation will be used and be extended, posing increasing risks to vulnerable people who will feel pressure or duty to end their lives. I believe it would be wiser to make a greater investment in hospices and palliative care at this time.”
Deputy FM Kate Forbes is a member of the Free Church (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) The Free Church of Scotland, who has 8,000 members across Scotland, also opposes the legislation.
Rev Stephen Allison told The Herald: “The Free Church of Scotland cannot support assisted suicide because true compassion is shown not by ending life but by offering the highest standard of palliative care and support to those who suffer. “Every life matters—especially in its most fragile moments. Society should not answer suffering with death, but with love, dignity, and hope.” Allison added: “Politicians need only look to countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal to see how the practice changes society for the worse. Teaching a culture that some people’s lives aren’t worth living devalues human life.
“We want to see a Scotland that champions the immense value of every life, created in God’s image, which understands that every suicide is an incalculable loss.”
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The Jewish Council of Scotland represents the 5,847 Jews living in Scotland.
In a recent consultation, the Council told the Scottish Government that their members have a wide variety of views.
The submission reads: “Orthodox Judaism is unequivocally opposed to assisted dying, and sets great store by the dedicated care given to patients in their final illness by members of the medical and nursing professions.
“Reform Judaism is divided about assisted dying; it has no unequivocal position on assisted dying, and respects the differing views.
“However, there are a growing number of Reform Rabbis who believe that there are limits to the efficacy of palliative care, and who strongly assert that assisted dying should be permitted, providing that safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable.
“Liberal Judaism has formulated a policy in support of legalizing assisted dying, which states that, as people ‘have had control over their life, they should also have control over their death in order to minimize the suffering of those dying in pain or indignity’.”
Scotland’s Jewish population is divided on the issue. (Image: Newsquest) There are around 1,000 Quakers in Scotland. Michael Hutchinson, clerk of the General Meeting for Scotland, said: “In 2019 Quakers considered assisted dying in careful detail but did not reach a united position. “Quakers embrace diversity in what we believe individually but hold the space for opposing views; we can have conversations, answer questions of ourselves and of God, work through our contradictions and support each other in difficulty.
“We uphold everyone concerned in this matter, knowing they are following the promptings of love and truth in their hearts.”
Scotland is an increasingly secular nation, as the number of empty pews and boarded-up churches attests.
Yeah the religious underpinnings of our society remains.
MSPs of all faiths and none will be asked to make one of the most serious decisions of their political lives this week.
They will hold the power to decide matters of life and death, literally.
Let’s hope they choose wisely.
