From the assisted suicide bill to the Feast of the Assumption, these are some of the issues likely to shape the Catholic conversation this week.
Assisted suicide
The Second Reading and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill are now only one month away. The Church has dedicated a great deal of time and effort to encouraging the faithful to contact their MPs to vote against it, and that is expected to continue and intensify as the September 11 vote approaches. Bishops across the country have spoken as part of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales campaign – most recently Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham.
In light of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s support for better palliative care, the debate has led to a number of religious and medical bodies further highlighting the urgent need. The organisations argue that, in its current form, palliative care is insufficiently provided for, with medical staff given too few resources and time to properly dedicate to it. Campaigners against assisted suicide warn that its introduction would see palliative care be further neglected and pressure those suffering from terminal illnesses to end their lives through euthanasia instead.
Anti-Catholic attacks in France
The French Church continues to be plagued by anti-Catholic attacks. An incident last week saw three churches in the Archdiocese of Tours vandalised. The tabernacle in one of the churches was broken into and the Blessed Sacrament desecrated. Masses of reparation are being celebrated in the desecrated churches, and local government bodies have condemned the attacks.
Recent Government reports indicate that anti-Christian attacks in France have been increasing since 2010. The majority pertain to attacks on religious buildings, though attacks on individuals are also rising. A 2025 study stated that France loses one religious building each week, with two-thirds of fires showing signs of deliberate arson. Sadly, it appears that the problem is not only not going away, but in fact getting worse.
Migration in Spain
The rapid influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta has left a lingering debate about the Church’s response to migration. In Ceuta and Morocco, the Church is working to provide for migrants – even directing a Sunday’s worth of collections to a local migrant centre. Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, said the “Ceuta invasion” was a test and called demography a “weapon”. As the European Union debates to and fro on the subject, so does the Church. As migration remains a constant in European politics, the discussion in the Church will continue just as long.
Immigration in the United States
In the United States, immigration is once again likely to be a hot topic of discussion. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on August 6 aimed at combating “birth tourism” and defining birthright citizenship eligibility.
Back in June, the Supreme Court ruled against President Trump’s past effort to ban birthright citizenship, so stay tuned to see what happens with this attempt.
Immigration enforcement efforts in the United States are ongoing, and ICE’s field officers will be fully equipped with body cameras by the end of the month, it was announced on Saturday.
The Traditional Latin Mass
Dioceses are still dealing with the fallout from the excommunication of the SSPX in July. The Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, announced a new Latin Mass to be held monthly just minutes away from an SSPX chapel that also celebrates a monthly Latin Mass.
In Pittsburgh, however, the last diocesan Latin Mass was announced to be ending, as the bishop did not request a renewal of the indult. The ICKSP has a presence in the diocese for those who still wish to attend the traditional Mass.
The Assumption
Of note: this week ahead includes the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, but this year it is actually not a Holy Day of Obligation in either the US or the UK, as it falls on a Saturday. And while it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, many parishes are still planning special events to celebrate the day on either Saturday or Sunday – so check to see if there are any near you.
