A RETIRED Baptist minister who is campaigning for a right to die has praised the late Pope for "setting an example".

The Rev Geoffrey Morris, of Leominster, is a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society who has battled against cancer and other illnesses.

He drew hope from the way in which John Paul declined to return to hospital and spent his final days at the Vatican.

The 74-year-old former pastor, and one-time teacher at Leominster and Bromyard high schools, has made an emotional plea to parliamentarians to support an Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill.

The lives of chronically sick people should not be prolonged against their wishes. Doctors should be allowed to help them die with dignity, he says.

Mr Morris has set out his controversial views in a book, When I Became a Man.

"I hope to follow the example of Pope John Paul and die in my own bed in my own home and in my own way," said Mr Morris, of Ryelands Grove.

"It is not natural to die in hospital and I believe the Pope by his own example has demonstrated the better way.

"He has long been in control of his own destiny, knowing just when to let nature take its course.

"Although I'm not a Roman Catholic, I strongly approve of the Pope's example in this matter."

Mr Morris has been an insulin-dependent diabetic for more than 50 years, had a kidney transplant in 1996 and has suffered chronic bronchitis, skin cancer and bowel cancer. He underwent major surgery in 2003.

He needs up to 20 tablets, three insulin injections and three blood tests each day and dreads "horrible hypos".

Mr Morris says he is only able to live "on a knife edge" through the loving support of his wife Margaret, 71, a retired bank cashier.

He is urging others to do as he has done - make a Living Will. The document asks doctors to "leave nature to its own devices and allow me to proceed on my journey if intervention could not improve the quality of life".

He explains: "That includes the withdrawal of nasal gastro feeding and hydration - it's euthanasia in a sense. It's a word I don't like, but, from Greek, it means good death."

Mr Morris stresses he does not advocate suicide but champions the right "not to be kept alive against your wishes if your quality of life is very poor".

The campaigner, who grew up, was educated and ordained in Leominster, toiled for months at a portable typewriter to complete his autobiography, which includes a section on assisted dying.

He does not want to be misunderstood and hopes people will read the book before passing judgment.

When I Became a Man - A Theological Journey, by Geoffrey Morris is published by UPSO (ISBN 1-84375-140-2) and is available at Border Books, Leominster.