A Liberal Democrat MP has been barred from receiving communion at his local Catholic church after supporting the Assisted Dying Bill in Parliament.
Chris Coghlan, who represents Dorking & Horley, was publicly denounced before congregations at St Joseph's Catholic church in Dorking after voting for the controversial legislation on June 20.
The MP said his treatment was "outrageous" and has lodged a formal complaint with Richard Moth, the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.
Father Ian Vane, the parish priest, had warned Coghlan before the vote that supporting the bill would constitute "obstinately persevering" in sin.
Lib Dem MP Chris Coghlan branded the ban 'utterly disrespectful to my family'
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Two days after it, Fr Vane announced the ban during his 8am mass.
He told worshippers that the MP would be refused communion because of how he had voted.
He then repeated the announcement at the 10am service, which typically attracts more than 150 parishioners. Coghlan was not present at either mass.
Writing in The Observer, Coghlan revealed that the priest had also written to him saying: "As priests, we are custodians of the sacraments."
The MP noted: "Although he made no reference to it, this priest is also well aware that he is responsible for signing off my children's education forms for the Catholic state school they attend."
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"It is completely inappropriate. It undermines the legitimacy of religious institutions in this country if representatives think it is acceptable to try to coerce Members of Parliament."
Later on social media, Coghlan said: "It is a matter of grave public interest the extent to which religious MPs came under pressure to represent their religion and not necessarily their constituents in the assisted dying vote.
"This was utterly disrespectful to my family, my constituents including the congregation, and the democratic process."
The MP said he had received supportive messages from constituents who witnessed Fr Vane's denunciation in church.
He also claimed that other MPs of faith had faced similar pressure before the vote.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who introduced the bill, said: "Religious leaders and people of faith have every right to communicate their views to their MPs and to parliament as a whole, but this is totally unacceptable. Chris Coghlan was very brave and principled to resist that pressure."
The Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, however, has defended the church's position.
In a statement, the diocese said: "The Catholic church believes in the sanctity of life and the dignity of every person.
"Prior to the vote, Bishop Richard Moth encouraged members of clergy and lay faithful to write to their MPs in a private capacity to express their concerns about the bill, and to ask them to vote against the proposed legislation.
"Bishop Richard spoke to Coghlan earlier this week and has offered to meet him in person to discuss the issues and concerns raised.
"Our prayers remain with all those impacted by the passing of this bill, and the peers in the House of Lords who are engaged in the next stage of this debate."
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