CATHOLIC bishops have warned that compassion is “under threat” from assisted dying, which they fear could lead to people feeling “pressured” into ending their lives, ahead of a debate and vote on the legislation later this month.

A statement from the Catholic Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland urged people “of reason and goodwill” to join them in defending “the weakest and most vulnerable,” who, they said, were at risk from the legislation.

One of Britain’s most senior Catholic leaders, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, added that it would be unacceptable to exclude the views of those who believe in God.

Speaking at a press conference for the autumn plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Nichols said: “The whole point of a democracy is that we share views, and I think we know that there are many voices of strong conviction in our society today, and all of them have a right to be heard.

“And that is absolutely true of the convictions that are based and drawn from faith and belief in God.

“To suggest that somehow belief in God is an excluder from public debate is actually abhorrent.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has, meanwhile, been criticised for stating his opposition to the assisted dying Bill and making a “huge moral issue” into a question of money by Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman.

Lady Harman said Mr Streeting had departed from the government’s neutral stance on the issue, adding: “We should not be having this argument in respect of money.

“It should not come down to resources. It is a huge moral issue and it is only a tiny number of people.”

Disabled People Against Cuts co-founder Linda Burnip told the Morning Star: “There are few safeguards in the proposed Bill to prevent any legislation passed becoming a slippery slope to push people into ending their lives.

“We've seen how easily and quickly this has happened in Canada and other places.

“If this is truly a free vote, then Wes Streeting must be free to say what he believes, although I agree that this is very much a moral and not a cost issue.

“Until disabled people get the assistance they need to live, there should be no debate on legalising killing them.”