SNP will lose support from people of faith if it embraces assisted suicide, says councillor

 (Photo: Unsplash)

The SNP has been warned that it stands to lose party members of faith if it supports calls to legalise assisted suicide. 

Councillor Chris McEleny told The National that backing assisted suicide was "simply not compatible to the faith based belief systems of many people in Scotland".

McEleny, a Catholic, continued that it would be wrong for the party to take positions on "profound matters of conscience such as euthanasia". 

"Therefore to adopt a party policy position that is incongruous to the beliefs of many party voters would make continued membership of the party not compatible with their faith," he said. 

His comments follow the call this week from Josh Aaron-Mennie, a member of the SNP's National Executive Committee, for a change to the law.

Aaron-Mennie plans to bring forward a motion on assisted suicide to the party's annual conference in October after watching his grandmother suffer at the end of her life.

He said the experience was "unbearable" and that she had been "denied dignity". 

The Scottish Daily Record reports that End of Life Choices, a cross-party group of MSPs, is preparing for a third push in Holyrood to legalise assisted suicide. 

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
The Protestant faith is losing people in the UK
The Protestant faith is losing people in the UK

The UK, Sweden and Germany are among the countries with the largest net losses of Protestants, according to a new study into religious switching.

Pro-life campaign launched for Welsh Parliament elections
Pro-life campaign launched for Welsh Parliament elections

Candidates are being asked to make their positions on abortion and assisted suicide clear.

Thousands expected as ‘Jesus March’ returns to London for Pentecost
Thousands expected as ‘Jesus March’ returns to London for Pentecost

Thousands of Christians from across the UK are set to gather in central London this Pentecost weekend for a large-scale public event celebrating the Christian faith.

US churchgoers report stronger faith and renewed commitment five years after Covid pandemic
US churchgoers report stronger faith and renewed commitment five years after Covid pandemic

A major new survey of over 24,000 Christian churchgoers in the US suggests many believe their faith and congregational life have strengthened in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.