Priest denies MP holy communion over his support for the assisted dying bill

Lib Dem condemns 'outrageous' behaviour of Catholic priestwho said a vote in favour would be 'obstinately persevering' in sin

- Jon Ungoed-Thomas & Rachel Sylvester

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.”

Writing in The Observer Coghlan expressed concern that: “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.”

Despite the threat, Coghlan supported the bill, which was passed in the Commons with a majority of 23.