The Anglican Church in NZ is urging people to apply compassion in the euthanasia debate and has spoken out against the Roman Catholic position of total opposition, believing proposed NZ voluntary euthanasia legislation has a place in society. Anglican vicar Ian Lawton claims that the Christian message is not about needlessly enduring pain and suffering, nor that people should still cling to the view that the timing of death is ‘only for God to decide’. Reverend Lawton argues that society should always seek the most compassionate solution.