Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Victoria on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Dear members and friends,

On 14 October 2025 the State Government introduced a Bill into the Victorian Parliament that seeks to amend the state’s euthanasia and assisted suicide laws.

If passed, the Government’s Bill would further weaken protections for vulnerable patients and reduce protections for medical practitioners who conscientiously object to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

In response to the Government’s plans, the Bishops of Victoria have written a Pastoral Letter to all Catholics in Victoria to ask that they contact their local Members of Parliament to urge them to vote against the proposed laws.

This is particularly important as Members of Parliament will have a conscience vote on the matter – meaning they do not have to vote according to party lines and can vote according to their own conscience.

The Government’s Bill seeks to remove many of the limited protections offered by Victoria’s so-called ‘voluntary assisted dying’ (VAD) laws.

The changes would, for the first time, allow medical practitioners to raise euthanasia and assisted suicide with patients who have never asked about it – patients who may be at their most vulnerable.

The changes would also force medical practitioners who conscientiously object to euthanasia and assisted suicide to provide patients with information about euthanasia and assisted suicide – as determined by the Government.

The Archbishop would be grateful if you were able to share this pastoral letter with your family, friends, colleagues and communities and encourage them to get involved.

The letter and other resources can be found via the following link: www.bit.ly/euthanasiabill. 

God bless,

Jane Munro
General President

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