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. 

News
No further action against Archbishop of York over handling of safeguarding complaint
No further action against Archbishop of York over handling of safeguarding complaint

The head of the Church of England's disciplinary process has said that the Archbishop of York has no case to answer over how he handled a safeguarding complaint. 

Catholic Church in Scotland supports bill to tackle demand for prostitution
Catholic Church in Scotland supports bill to tackle demand for prostitution

The bill proposes cracking down on demand rather than supply.

Armenian government accused of violating freedom of religion and speech after clergy arrests
Armenian government accused of violating freedom of religion and speech after clergy arrests

The Armenian government has accused clergymen of plotting violent revolution and advocating assassinations.

Lone Anglican church in Moscow suspends worship services
Lone Anglican church in Moscow suspends worship services

The only official Anglican congregation in Moscow, Russia, has suspended worship services amid a reported internal dispute over who controls the church.