Archbishop Peter Jensen, has questioned the use of the phrase ‘death with dignity’ and says Easter recalls the humiliating suffering of Jesus and the triumph of his resurrection.

In his annual Easter message, the head of Australia’s largest Anglican diocese says the idea of ‘death with dignity’ seems like a cover up.

“There is nothing dignified about the pain, helplessness, loss and anxiety of death. It is undignified. It takes God’s noble, glorious creation of a human being and turns us back to dust.” Dr Jensen said.

Dr Jensen described crucifixion as the worst of undignified deaths. “It was capital punishment designed to humiliate and intimidate. When God became man and joined us, that is how he was murdered. But out of the shame of Jesus’ death has come a never ceasing flow of mercy and forgiveness, sufficient even to deal with my faults and sins. And after the indignity of death he left the grave in glory.”

Dr Jensen pondered on his own death “It may come over a long period of time; it may be terribly painful; it may be as a result of accident and be instantaneous. Who can tell?”

In concluding his brief message, Archbishop Jensen said “but this I do know - and you can know it too - my Saviour Jesus has walked this way ahead of me. He has walked it in the worst of all ways. And this I know – that he has been raised from the dead and walks not only ahead of me, but with me, every step of that road.”