United Reformed Minister Invites Dr Death to Brighton

Nice collar, shame about the shirt and correspondingly crass, bizarre views on the 'debate' regarding assisted suicide...the Reverend David Coleman.

BBC News reports that an Australian doctor offering workshops on how to commit suicide will give a talk on euthanasia at a church base in Brighton next month. Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke, who runs Exit International, will give his talk at the Brighthelm Centre.

The Reverend David Coleman, who runs the centre, said it was a place where people could discuss things carefully. Sussex Police said it was against the law to encourage suicide but it was difficult to comment in advance.

Rev Coleman said: "Why should we be intimidated? (Because you're wearing that shirt!) Why should the fear be cranked up to that level? (Because of your shirt!) We want to be holy ground. (So tell the assisted suicide enthusiast where to get off!) We want to be a place where people can discuss things carefully. (like the promotion of suicide?) As always we try and be as open as we can." (To the point of allowing people promoting suicide to come give a workshop on how to kill yourself at your church?)

A Sussex Police statement said: "In relation to the legality of holding a meeting to discuss euthanasia, it is difficult to comment as we cannot be certain in advance what will be discussed on the day. However, the Suicide Act does state that 'a person commits an offence if they encourage or assist a suicide'. This law would be applicable regardless of whether a meeting was taking place in a public building or a private residence."

Last year, Dr Nitschke was left searching for a venue in East Sussex after the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne cancelled his booking. Eastbourne Borough Council also declined an approach by Exit International to use one of its venues. At the time, Dr Nitschke said it was a bizarre situation that he had never experienced before.

UPDATE...Fr Ray Blake has said on his blog that this 'doctor' from 'down under' sells suicide kits for 35 quid at his workshops. Perhaps we Brightonians can have a little gathering outside the Brighthelm Centre when Dr Death gives his talk and let him know what we think of his ideas and the fact that he is promulgating them in one of the suicide hotspots of the country. Brighton has plenty of suicidal, depressed and mentally distressed individuals, who could fall victim to this man's disgusting 'suicide kits'. The Brighthelm Centre is yards away from the YMCA, which houses some of Brighton's most poor, most vulnerable and most mentally distressed citizens.