Archbishop John Sherrington has expressed disappointment at plans to reintroduce the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Parliament later this year, renewing the Catholic bishops’ opposition to assisted suicide.

The archbishop, who serves as lead bishop for life issues at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said the legislation, which is expected to return to the House of Commons in September, should be rejected by MPs.

“The Catholic Church opposes this Bill in principle and joins with many other people of faith and none in arguing that we should not cross this watershed,” Archbishop Sherrington said.

He argued that concerns raised during previous parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill remained unresolved. According to Archbishop Sherrington, support for the legislation narrowed as it progressed through the Commons, while peers identified what he described as significant shortcomings in the proposed law.

The archbishop also pointed to opposition from a number of professional and advocacy organisations. He said bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians had raised concerns about the legislation, while disability rights groups and organisations working on eating disorders and domestic abuse issues had also expressed reservations.

Archbishop Sherrington said the Bill would undermine freedom of conscience for medical professionals and care workers. He further argued that the legislation would require care homes and hospices to participate in assisted suicide, placing pressure on institutions and staff and risking harm to vulnerable people.

Calling on MPs to reject the Bill, he said the debate had also highlighted shortcomings in the provision of palliative care across England and Wales.

“Surely what is now needed to help the terminally ill is an improvement in compassionate, high-quality palliative care, and proper hospice funding,” he said.

The archbishop urged politicians to prioritise healthcare funding for people living with terminal illness rather than pursuing assisted suicide legislation.

Concluding his statement, he called on “all people of goodwill” to work and pray to prevent the Bill from becoming law.

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