UK & Ireland

Speaking at a seminar of the Fowley Island Institute, held jointly with Lincoln Bishop University and St Mary's University, last weekend, leading Catholic academic, Professor Francis Davis, called for 'innovation' and 'expansion' in especially the English speaking Catholicism and wider Christianity's 'political' and 'pastoral' theology, to build an 'empirical political theology' "truly fit to help... Read More

The Roman Catholic parish of Marychurch in Hertfordshire is preparing an exhibition of Marian Shrines around the world for October, the Month of the Holy Rosary. Organiser Rich Salditos, 'Dea' told ICN: "It will be the third Marian Exhibit I will be organising in our parish. It is a small one, however I have checked and it appears it is the only Marian Exhibit across the UK." The exhibition will r... Read More

The Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson reflected on his own parents' decades-long marriage in a homily at the annual Mass for Marriage at Plymouth Catholic Cathedral - the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface, on 12 September 2026. Speaking to couples celebrating their anniversaries, the bishop opened with a reflection on Ein Karem, the hillside town near Jerusalem where... Read More

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the southernmost parish in Islington on the edge of London's Barbican, is taking part in the Open House Festival, along with its ecumenical neighbour, the Methodist Wesley's Chapel. The Open House Festival enables people to visit buildings which are not always open to the public. Often described by visitors as a "hidden gem", St Joseph's in Bunhill Row, is now open f... Read More

Gospel of 12 September 2026 Luke 6:43-49 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure... Read More

Church leaders in England and Wales Wales have welcomed the news that that the Assisted Dying Bill was defeated today in Parliament. The Bill failed after Second Reading by 270 (Yes) votes to 286 (No) - a majority of 16. Archbishop John Sherrington, the Archbishop of Liverpool and Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops' Conference, said in a statement: We are pleased that MPs have voted to o... Read More

Four Jesuit novices have professed their First Vows in the Society of Jesus at a special Mass celebrated at St Mary's Church in Harborne, Birmingham. Joseph Beakhouse, Jean-Christophe Carré, Vilém Plaček and Martin Šimunský made their vows on Saturday 5 September, surrounded by family, friends, fellow Jesuits and those who have accompanied them during their formation. The First Vows Mass was ... Read More

Lauren Edwards' assisted suicide Bill has been defeated by 286 votes to 270 in a major victory for opponents of the Bill, settling the issue in England and Wales for a generation after a two-year national debate. The assisted suicide Bill was opposed by the leaders of Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, while not a single Northern Irish MP voted for it. After a similar ... Read More

The Second Reading vote on Lauren Edwards' controversial Assisted Dying Bill is on a knife-edge, as just over a third of MPs back Lauren Edwards' controversial assisted dying bill as currently drafted, finds a major new poll. The survey of 100 backbench MPs, commissioned by Care Not Killing, finds that just 37 per cent support the Bill as it stands, while nearly two-thirds, 63 per cent, or have re... Read More

Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops' Conference of England & Wales said: "I urge Members of Parliament to reject The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide as it returns to the House of Commons tomorrow, 11 September. This bill is wrong in principle and is also deeply flawed. If passed, it could lead to vuln... Read More

Anthony Horan, Director, of the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office has issued the following statement today regarding proposals to remove legal protections relating to self-administered abortion in Scotland. It is deeply troubling to hear that SNP members may be asked to vote on a motion seeking to remove legal protections relating to self-administered abortion in Scotland. Human life possess... Read More

Leaders from across Wales' major faith communities have written a joint open letter to Members of the Senedd, pledging their prayers and support as the new Senedd begins its term, while warning against rising religious and ethnic prejudice amid what they describe as a period of "significant tension" across the United Kingdom. The letter is signed by senior figures representing the Catholic, Anglic... Read More

With excitement growing in hosting the Ryder Cup in Limerick in 12 months time, a quiet revolution in youth growth and development programs is also occurring across the West of Ireland including a 1.1 Million Euro youth and community facility is set to open on the Salesian Campus in Pallaskenry, Limerick, less than 20 minutes from Adare This follows the conversion of the former swimming pool and a... Read More

The third plenary of the 11th mandate of the Joint Working Group was convened at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, from 1-3 September. "The daily sessions were accompanied by morning and evening prayers, reflection, and moments of fellowship," reads the communique. "Most of the programme was dedicated to advancing the work of the three working groups, with seven sessions devoted to this purpose... Read More