Faith and Politics Collide: Catholic MP Denied Communion Over Assisted Dying Vote

A dramatic confrontation between faith and politics has unfolded in the UK, where Catholic MP Chris Coghlan was publicly denied Holy Communion by his parish priest, Father Ian Vane, over his vote in favor of the assisted dying bill. Coghlan, who represents Dorking and Horley in Surrey, voted for the Terminally Ill Adults – End of Life Bill, which passed with a narrow margin of 23 votes. Two days later, Father Vane announced during Mass that Coghlan would be refused Communion due to his vote, citing Canon 915 of Roman Catholic law.

A Divided Response
Coghlan described the priest’s actions as “outrageous” and “utterly disrespectful,” filing a complaint with Bishop Richard Moth, who has offered to meet with him to discuss the issue. Coghlan emphasized that as an MP, his role is to represent his constituents, not the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, criticized Father Vane’s actions as an attempt to coerce elected representatives. The bill’s future remains uncertain as it moves to the House of Lords for its second reading, where peers will debate its principles.