Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
A Private Members’ Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – has been reintroduced to the House of Commons. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11 September 2026.
Our clear principled objection to this Bill remains and we renew our call for Catholics and people of goodwill to unite in prayer and compassionate action. Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, explains our strong opposition to this legislation:
“The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide has returned to the House of Commons, and Members of Parliament will vote on its Second Reading on 11 September. This bill is wrong in principle. It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives.
“The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate.
“I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”
More InformationTake Action: Contact your MP
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops’ Conference, has issued a statement highlighting the many dangers of the Private Members’ Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide:
“The Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is expected to take place in the House of Commons on 11 September. Assisted suicide is a matter of life and death, and it is wholly unsatisfactory that this divisive and flawed bill is being put to parliament again as a Private Members’ Bill without the key issues being addressed. The reduced majority at Third Reading in the Commons and the debate in the Lords showed how flawed the Bill is."
Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has offered his congratulations to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham:
“As President of the Bishops’ Conference, and on behalf of the Catholic community in our countries, I offer my warm congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming leader of the Labour Party and now Prime Minister."
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has invited the new Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham, and his team to discuss how government, faith groups and charities can work together to build flourishing communities.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Raymond Friel OBE, Chief Executive of CSAN, offers the support and practical experience of the network’s 50 member organisations, united by a commitment to tackle the causes of poverty, promote justice, restore dignity and help build communities in which every person can flourish.
Secondary school teachers in the Archdiocese of Birmingham are to deliver lessons to help pupils recognise and challenge antisemitism, as part of a government-funded project.
Secondary schools across the Archdiocese will take part in a scheme to give teachers the confidence to tackle the issue in class, and pupils the skills to identify antisemitism when they see it.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, retired Archbishop of Westminster and former President of the Bishops’ Conference, has expressed his sadness to learn of the death of the “courteous, warm and deeply perceptive” journalist Edward Stourton.
Less than a year after their first encounter during the State Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Holy See, representatives of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) travelled to London to meet once again with Her Majesty at Clarence House, sharing stories from the front lines of their mission among some of the world's most vulnerable communities.
On the of Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July, our [Salford diocese] patron, clergy, religious, parishioners, and invited guests from across the diocese gathered at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist for the Solemn Mass of Dedication and Consecration of the new Altar. This diocesan family celebration marks a major milestone in the restoration and renewal of our mother church.
An immersive audio visual experience in Westminster Cathedral is wowing audiences this summer. Luminiscence, a ground-breaking take on the concept of son et lumière, is a 360° video projection concert that narrates the story of London and the iconic Neo-Byzantine mother church of the Diocese of Westminster.
Voiced by Paddington and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, this 50-minute performance is more than just a light show, it uses 24 laser projectors, which bring the Cathedral to life in breath-taking ways with colour and imagery, culminating in a vision of what the Cathedral may one day look like fully covered in mosaics. The stunning visuals are blended with live performances of the great composers brought to life by the Lux Aeterna choir.
Abbot Hugh Allan joins us again this month for an episode of At the Foot of the Cross that amplifies the Bishops’ call for Catholics, and those of goodwill who stand against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, to contact their MPs to ask them to vote against making assisted suicide law. The Bill’s Second Reading and vote takes place on Friday, 11 September 2026.
6 - 9 August 2026
Every year, on 6 and 9 August, we remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In an increasingly fragile world, where the nuclear threat has once again become a tangible reality, this commemoration is not only a moment of mourning, but a genuine call to conscience.
13 September 2026
Education Sunday is marked this year on 13 September - just after the new academic year starts. The theme for 2026 is drawn from its Gospel reading of Matthew 18:21-35: I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
1 October 2026
Laudato si’ calls for education to promote environmental citizenship; an education which is, by its very nature, a lifelong journey of formation. Pope Francis suggested that education is designed not merely to promote knowledge but also to “instil good habits”. In this sense, education is a way of shaping how we live in relationship with God, Creation and one another.
Held to celebrate the Season of Creation, this webinar will explore the theme chosen by the World Council of Churches, “Immersion in Living Water”, through the lens of education – not as something confined to schools or academia, but as a lifelong journey of formation, ecological conversion, and daily habits and actions.
10 October 2026
There are two main strands to the Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress in 2026.
In London, there will be a representative gathering of the Church with bishops, priests, and people. No less important is how Adoremus is marked in our parishes throughout England and Wales. Local Masses, processions of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Hours will unite these local events with the national gathering. Footage from the London event will be made available to enable remote participation.
18 October - 23 October 2026
The Jesuit Institute is offering this online week of guided prayer for those who have been affected by the scandal of Clergy Abuse in the church. Whether you have been affected directly or indirectly by this issue, this week will offer you safe space to prayerfully reflect on and explore your relationship with God as you are experiencing it in your life just now.
The Maryvale Institute offers a full range of programmes for every ability, from easy short courses to a five-year PhD programme. Want to deepen your faith? Thinking about getting more involved with your parish, Catholic organisation or Diocese? Would you like to teach in Catholic institutions? One of these courses may be for you.
Deadline: 15 September 2026
Christian Art are delighted to launch a national Catholic schools Art Competition in the lead-up to Adoremus this October, organised by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. A key feature of Adoremus will be the Blessed Sacrament prayerfully processed from Southwark Cathedral to Westminster Cathedral, so we invite young people to reflect creatively on themes such as the Blessed Sacrament, the presence of Jesus, and the beauty of our cathedrals.
Deadline to register interest: 31 July 2026
An ecumenical partnership between the Bishops’ Conference ‘God who Speaks’ project, St John’s Waterloo, and Art + Christianity, has made an open call for artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design a cover for any of the 73 books of the Bible.
Titled Divine Designs: Between the Covers this art competition and exhibition celebrates creativity and innovation, and seeks to promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today.
“From cover to cover, we are celebrating the Bible,” said Fleur Dorrell, Biblical Apostolate Manager for the Bishops’ Conference. “In 73 books – from Genesis to Revelation – the Bible is the greatest story ever told. Our passion is to bring each book alive through the medium of art in this unique competition and exhibition.”
Today, people seeking asylum in the UK are facing laws and policies that deny their dignity. Families are kept apart. People are forced into poverty and isolation. Many live in fear, unable to rebuild their lives even after being recognised as refugees.
As Christians, we cannot accept a system that treats people as problems to be managed rather than neighbours to be welcomed. Together, we can build a society that welcomes, protects, and stands alongside people seeking safety.
St George's Roman Catholic Church