Man of Faith: Priest Denies MP Holy Communion Over His Support for Assisted Dying Bill

A Liberal Democrat MP was denounced by his Roman Catholic priest before his congregation and banned from communion after voting in favour of the assisted dying bill.

Chris Coghlan, the MP for Dorking and Horley, described his treatment as “outrageous”. He has complained to Richard Moth, the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

In the days before the vote, Coghlan was contacted by his local priest, Father Ian Vane, who suggested a vote in favour would be “obstinately persevering” in sin and that Coghlan would be refused communion if he did so.

Vane, the priest at Coghlan’s local church, St Joseph’s Catholic church in Dorking, Surrey, wrote: “As priests, we are custodians of the sacraments.”