In a statement following their winter meeting in Maynooth, the bishops also said the incoming government must “work to alleviate the burden on those living on the margins, and to increase housing supply for young families seeking homes”.
Their major concern was end of life care in the wake of the recent parliamentary vote on assisted suicide in Westminster and the backing for the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying in the Irish parliament.
“Assisted suicide, far from being an expression of autonomy, is a failure of care,” the bishops said.
By legislating for assisted suicide or euthanasia, they warned, the state would contribute to undermining the confidence of people who are terminally ill, who want to be cared for and want to live life as fully as possible until death naturally comes.
“In our culture, we rightly hold doctors and nurses in high esteem because they are presumed always to be at the service of life for as long as their patient lives.”
They called on Catholics “to stand firmly” in support of medical professionals who stand for life. “One day it may be your life,” they said.
As negotiations get underway among Irish political parties on the formation of the next government, the bishops appealed to politicians to “uphold human life at all its stages, and to prioritise the provision of palliative care for people living with chronic and terminal illness”.
They reiterated their concern over the dignity of families and individuals who are struggling because of cost-of-living pressures or homelessness.
“We reiterate our call for improved social dialogue in Ireland to tackle the issues that we face.”
They described the lower turnout by the electorate (60 per cent), especially in some urban areas, as “worrying” and said the new government needs to tackle the disconnect from the democratic and political process.
“A new model for social dialogue has to include voices which represent the whole of society, including people of faith, so that there can be a truly inclusive and meaningful participation in the life of the nation.”