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Archbishop O'Toole concerned at re-introduction of Assisted Suicide Bill

Archbishop Mark O'Toole

Archbishop Mark O'Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, has issued a statement in response to the announcement that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is to be re-introduced to the House of Commons, where it is expected to be debated in the Autumn. Archbishop O'Toole said: "It is immensely disappointing that the Bill to legalise assisted suicide is being re-introduced to Parliament. It ... Read More


Remembering Sr Ruth Montrichard SJC

Fr Laurence Freeman from World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) writes: There is rejoicing in heaven and sadness on earth. Sr Ruth (born October 8, 1941) died on 14 June in Trinidad where she was born, entered the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and devoted her life for love of Christ and for those she served through Servol which she co-founded with her soul-friend Fr Gerry Pantin. Her sk... Read More


WCC signs joint civil society statement on AI in warfare

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

The World Council of Churches is among over 100 organisations who have a statement on AI in warfare that calls on tech companies and states to halt the use of AI systems in military kill chains, including AI decision-support systems, target generation systems, remote biometric surveillance, and multimodal AI models such as large language models. The statement further urges that all other AI system... Read More


Update on young Christian woman arrested by Israeli army

Natalie Abuddayeh

Bishop Dr Imad Haddad, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land writes: Dear friends and partners, We give thanks to each of you who have prayed and advocated for the safety and release of ELCJHL youth Natalie Abuddayeh after she was detained by Israeli forces on June 2nd. Unfortunately, Natalie has still not been released. We have been informed that she had a court a... Read More

Text: Bishop Paul McAleenan at Home Office Prayer Vigil

Bishop Paul McAleenan at the vigil

Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees and Racial Justice issues in the Catholic Bishops Conference, gave the following reflection yesterday, at the Prayer Vigil outside the Home Office - marking the beginning of World Refugee Week. 'Over 9,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats between January and 9 June this year'. With these words we immediately have an imag... Read More


Gospel in Art: Pray for those who persecute you

Nero's Torches,  by Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki,  1878  © National Museum, Krakow

Gospel of 16 June 2026 Matthew 5:43-48 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy." But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.... Read More


Bishops' statement on re-introduction of Assisted Dying Bill

Dr Ray Towey and campaigners. Image ICN/JS

Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, has expressed his deep disappointment that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to parliament in autumn, saying: "I am deeply disappointed that the previously unsuccessful Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being reintroduced in the House of Commons. It i... Read More


Pope Leo: 'Nostra aetate took a firm stand against antisemitism'

Pope meets with United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York - Image: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV met with representatives of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York on Monday, and thanked them for their work helping vulnerable populations around the world. He stressed that in a world still wounded by division and conflict, the Vatican II Declaration 'Nostra aetate' called us "to move beyond past misunderstandings toward collaboration for the common good." "Recognizing the... Read More


Pope prays for parents who have lost a child in Day for Life message

Image: Vatican Media

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for the Holy See, has sent Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, a message from Pope Leo XIV to express the Holy Father's prayerful good wishes to all celebrating Day for Life this coming Sunday 21 June 2026. Day for Life is the day in the Church's year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every ... Read More


Record numbers attend Home Office Prayer Vigil

A record number of people took part in the monthly prayer vigil for refugees and migrants, outside the Home Office in Westminster on Monday, 15 June. As the day marked the start of Refugee Week, we were joined by a large number of students from Catholic schools in London and Birmingham. Their participation was organised by the Columbans and the FCJ Sisters. We were also joined by Quakers and Angli... Read More


Cardiff RC Primary School achieves Oscar Romero Award

Miss Chapman, Mrs Hart and the children with their CAFOD Animals and copies of the booklet 'God's Microphones'  which they wrote.

St John Lloyd RC Primary School in Cardiff has become the first Catholic primary school in Wales to achieve the Oscar Romero Award at Participation level. The school has been recognised for its work on promoting Catholic Social Teaching into the culture, curriculum, and ethos of the school. The school marked the beginning of this journey by celebrating Mass on the Feast Day of Saint Oscar Romero ... Read More


Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski decries Russia's attack on Kyiv's historic Dormition Cathedral

The historic Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv, was engulfed in smoke and flames last night

Russian attacks caused a fire and substantial damage to the Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv, last night. Photos this morning showed large parts of the cathedral were still on fire, with Kyiv's military administration head confirming substantial damage. Bishop Kenneth Noawakowski OBE, from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Holy Family of London, told ICN: "The continued, unrelenting bombardment of Ukra... Read More


Three Nuns celebrated as Extraordinary Wandsworth Women

Janet Stuart

In 2025 The London Borough of Wandsworth commemorated three nuns who lived and worked in this part of South London. These three religious are now celebrated in a new book - Extraordinary Women of Wandsworth -which profiles the lives of more than eighty women connected to the Borough. Organised into eight sections-Entrepreneurs, Writers, Scientists, Artists, Activists, Entertainers, Educators and S... Read More


Gospel in Art: An eye for an eye

The False Mirror,   by René Magritte, 1929,  Oil on canvas  © Museum of Modern Art, New York

Gospel of 15 June 2026 Matthew 5:38-42 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you: Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go o... Read More

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