“Amess Amendment” for the extreme crime scene ritual

A so-called “Amess amendment” is proposed to guarantee access to Catholic priests to administer the extreme rite, even at the crime scene.

It follows that a priest was unable to reach Sir David Amess, a Catholic, at the scene where he was attacked.

Labor MP Mike Kane is looking to add this to the legislation currently pending in Parliament.

It would give the presumption that priests can pray with a Catholic “in the last moments of life”.

The intention is to add the “Amess Amendment” to the law on police, crime, convictions and the courts.

It is understood that there are colleagues ready to propose the amendment in the committee stage in the House of Lords and discussions are underway between the parties.

In the Catholic Church the sacrament of “anointing of the sick” is given to those who are sick or dying.

A local priest who went to the site of the attack on Sir David in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, did not reach him.

“I think it is vital that people of faith can receive the ministry and sacraments they need in the last moments of life and on the verge of death,” said Kane, who spoke of Sir David’s Catholic faith in a tribute in Parliament. this week.

“There should be a presumption on the part of the authorities, whether it is a nursing home or a crime scene, that pastors can attend to the spiritual needs of the individual concerned.”

The proposal of Mr. Kane would affirm the right of priests to be able to reach those who were seriously ill or to say prayers for those who had just died.

He says this should respect safety and medical considerations and would be decided together with the authorities at the scene.

Speaking on BBC Politics Live, Conservative MP Matt Warman said clearer guidelines are needed on such decisions.

“But the counterpoint I would like to make is that no one would want to see a situation where for whatever reason a trial was declared null and void because a crime scene was contaminated,” Warman said.

“I think it’s an immensely difficult decision. We all want to see justice done and there has to be a balance together.”

But Labor MP Siobhan McDonagh said the importance for some people of such religious moments must be recognized and questioned whether a process could be “compromised by a priest who comes in to give extreme unction.”

A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference welcomed the principle of ensuring that priests can administer the sacrament of the sick, but acknowledged that this could be complicated during an emergency.