“We are expecting the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill to have its Second Reading in the House of Lords on Friday 12 September. As I’ve shared with you before, there is a real chance we can defeat this Bill in the Lords – and the assisted suicide lobby knows it. That’s why their campaign in the Lords is now in full swing. Several Peers have told us they’re getting a large amount of correspondence urging them to support the Bill. It’s crucial that Peers also hear from those of us who oppose this dangerous change in the law. TAKE ACTION We’ve just launched a new EasyAction tool to help you email a few Peers directly. It creates a tailored message that highlights a key concern with the Bill and ensures it reaches the right Peers. Please take action and click the button below to email Peers now . It only takes 30 seconds.” Ask Peers to oppose the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill
Catholics seeking guidance: In light of recent coverage, some references to help and guide: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2277 Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText The Code of Canon Law: Code 227 Code of Canon Law - Book II - The People of God - Part I. (Cann. 208-329) The Code of Canon Law: Code 915 Code of Canon Law - Book IV - Function of the Church Liber (Cann. 879-958) followed by the commentary from the Pontifical Council for Legislative Text (24/06/2000) Declaration of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts which clearly outlines the responsibility of priests towards the People of God entrusted to their care.
PLEASE NOTE Mass on Tuesday will be at 9.00 am
Thursday, June 5th, 2025 @ 10:49 am The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted suicide, is fast approaching its decisive vote in the House of Commons which will likely take place on either the 13 or 20 of June. The Catholic bishops of England and Wales oppose this flawed bill both in principle and in practice. Among the many concerns, we are particularly alarmed by the following: • This legislation would require many hospices and care homes to facilitate assisted suicide. This will put in jeopardy their ability to provide care. Parliament has rejected an amendment that would have allowed institutions to opt out of participating in the provision of assisted suicide.[1] • The provisions for conscientious objection for health and social care workers are both unclear and inadequate. This problem will not be addressed by proposed amendments. • Safeguards against coercion for the most vulnerable are wholly inadequate, particularly in cases involving coercive control or social pressure. During Committee Stage, the bill’s main proponent was unable to confirm whether individuals seeking assisted suicide due to financial concerns or feelings of being a burden would be prevented from accessing it.[2] Since then, no progress has been made, and many MPs consider the existing safeguards insufficient, with the potential to result in a “terrible tragedy.”[3] We note the opposition for the bill from key professional bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists whose members will be expected to be involved in the process of assessing those who elect for assisted suicide. We have already seen the bill weakened during Committee Stage. In addition, MPs are expected to debate nearly 60 pages of amendments in under 15 hours. The whole process by which this bill has been brought forward and debated is insufficient for such a radical change. We urge Catholics, and all people of goodwill, to contact their MP and ask them to vote against this bill. We also ask you to pray that our representatives choose to protect the most vulnerable citizens of this country when they vote later this month. You can contact your MP using this this tool . Archbishop John Sherrington Archbishop of Liverpool Lead Bishop for Life Issues [1] https://thecatholicherald.com/religious-orders-may-be-forced-out-of-care-homes-by-assisted-suicide-bill/ [2] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/12/choose-assisted-dying-to-save-money-on-care-kim-leasdbeater/ [3] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/naz-shah-mps-conservative-labour-stephen-kinnock-b1228203.html
Please keep in your prayers those who are undertaking public exams at this time. Although a very short period in a lifetime, it can be a time of stress, anxiety and various other emotions for those undertaking exams and their families, so, please pray for them and be mindful of their needs.
This weekend the Sunday is designated as such and there is a second collection in support of this element of the work of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales. See further on in the newsletter about this critical matter in the face of abortion up to birth and euthanasia, as well as the link to the website:- Day for Life - Catholic Bishops' Conference
For those of you who contribute through the ‘gift aid envelope system’ please collect your box for 2025/26 (with your name on it) from the sacristy. Gift Aid Declaration for 2024/25: A paper copy of your declaration should be available for collection from the sacristy next weekend, saving the parish the cost of postage.
The latest attack on life is upon us, with an amendment being tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi; the following from the ‘SPUC’ web site: MPs are launching a new push to expand our already horrific abortion laws even further. Abortion advocates in Parliament are seeking to hijack the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill by tabling amendments to remove abortion from the criminal law. New Clause 1 , tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, seeks to change criminal law so that “no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy” at any gestation. This means that a woman who induced her abortion at home using pills (or any other method) at any stage of pregnancy, including just before natural birth, would not commit a crime. New Clause 20 , tabled by Stella Creasy MP, is even more extreme. It completely repeals the laws that form the legal underpinning of the current abortion law, meaning that there’d be no way to bring an abusive partner who causes the death of an unborn baby to justice. We must rally to defeat these evil amendments. The earliest they could be debated is 11 June , which means there is time to lobby MPs and rally public opinion. Please contact your MP , asking him/her to oppose and vote against new clauses 1 and 20 to the Crime and Policing Bill. Separately, a debate is being held on the subject of decriminalisation on 2 June in Westminster Hall. Such debates cannot change the law but raise awareness of an issue. Briefings on both amendments can be found here , and here . For further details and to attend a webinar this Tuesday, go to: Fight the latest attempts to decriminalise abortion – SPUC Please take action and contact your MP via the ‘Right to Life’ link :- Write to MP to stop abortion up to birth - Easy tool - No To Abortion Up To Birth campaign asking him or her to oppose the amendment Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: - The Bill will further be debated on 13th June. Based solely on Parliamentary process various UK news channels reported that there are grave concerns about the Bill, one MP saying that if the Second Reading of the Bill last November showed Parliamentary debate at its best, the debate this time showed quite the opposite! Worth a read in such regard: Declaration “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity (2 April 2024)
Mass and Meet Lunch :- on Friday 6 June after midday Mass. Summer menu of Homemade Quiche and salad, fresh baked bread and cheese followed by cake and coffee/tea. All are welcome! "
“On 20 May, we observe the annual Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse. The Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the impact of abuse on individuals, their families and friends, and the communities of which they are part. The theme this year is “The Empty Chair.” Many of us are saddened when we look around our churches and note that once-familiar faces are missing. People leave church communities for a wide variety of reasons, but our thoughts are on those who are not there because they have suffered abuse in a church setting and cannot face being there. They may be the families or friends of survivors. They may be former members of a community affected by allegations or convictions for abuse. They may be people who are ashamed by what they have heard about abuse within the Church that they no longer want to be part of it. These different people are represented by “The Empty Chair.” Further details at:- National Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse 2025 | News ”