The week saw renewed calls to defend persecuted Christians, tragedy among Polish pilgrims and continuing debate over assisted suicide, abortion and religious freedom.
Religious freedom
Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster has called on Catholics to support a petition urging the United Nations and national governments to do more to support people oppressed for their faith.
The petition, organised by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), is intended to put pressure on governments that fail to uphold Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which defends the right to freedom of religion and belief. Among the signatories to the petition was Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London.
