SPUC has applauded The Salvation Army’s leadership in its stand against proposed assisted suicide legislation in New Zealand.
Antonia Tully of the campaign Lives Worth Living said: “The Salvation Army is giving a lead to Christians of all denominations in New Zealand and around the world in opposing the assisted suicide legislation. They get to the heart of the matter in saying that we need to care for those who suffer, not end their lives.”
Voters in New Zealand will get a chance to vote in a referendum on whether they support the End of Life Choice Act 2019. The referendum takes place during the General Election on 17 October. If more than 50% of people vote "Yes" in the referendum, the End of Life Choice Act will come into force after 12 months. If more than 50% of people vote "No" in the referendum, the End of Life Choice Act will not come into force.
“New Zealand is at a crossroads of life and death”, said Antonia Tully. ““The Salvation Army is telling New Zealanders to vote ‘no’ on 17 October. It is heartening to hear a Christian church sending an unequivocal message to voters on an issue which goes to the heart of value and dignity of each human life.”
The proposed Act would allow terminally ill patients experiencing unbearable suffering, and having less than six months to live, to choose assisted dying when approved by two doctors. Among the dangers in the proposed law are the decisions that it would require no independent witnesses and that the assisted suicide would not have to be an act of last resort.
A Christian movement upholding the value of life
A Salvation Army statement said: “As a Christian movement, the Army holds a view on the value of life that leads to a conclusion that the natural process of dying requires significant care, and should lead us to find better ways to deal with suffering rather than ending the lives of those who suffer.”
A culture where the sick are pressured to die
“Voters in New Zealand should look to the experience of other countries”, said Antonia Tully. “The Netherlands has a tragic track record of euthanasia. One Dutch euthanasia clinic expects the number of people killed by euthanasia in the Netherlands to double within the next eight years, with 12,000 people killed by assisted suicide every year by 2028.
“We’ve also seen the 'devastating’ report showing that a third of Canadians who chose assisted suicide in 2019 said that they feared being a burden on family, friends and caregivers if they continued to live.
“New Zealanders need to make sure that they don’t make the same mistake. Otherwise they will create a culture where sick, disabled or mentally ill people feel their best option in life is to die.”