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Catholic, Anglican, and Jewish leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed opposition to a parliamentary bill that would legalize assisted suicide.
The bill would allow for assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, a practice which is currently illegal in the UK.
The religious leaders who signed the letter said that their opposition to the bill was rooted in a conviction that every human life is sacred. The bill is also facing opposition from medical professionals.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249366/catholic-anglican-and-jewish-leaders-urge-uk-parliament-to-reject-assisted-suicide-bill
A U.K. lawmaker has proposed adding an amendment to a bill going through Parliament, ensuring that Catholic priests can administer the last rites at crime scenes.
The push comes after Sir David Amess, a Catholic and pro-life member of parliament, was stabbed to death last week during a meeting with contituents.
A priest reportedly tried to enter the crime scene to give Amess last rites, but was denied entry.
The “Amess amendment” would seek to protect the right of Catholic priests and other ministers of religion to pray alongside the dying.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249360/sir-david-amess-death-uk-lawmaker-proposes-adding-amess-amendment-on-last-rites-to-bill
The number of Catholics in Asia and Africa continued to grow in 2019, according to newly released statistics.
The world population grew by 81.3 million in 2019, while members of the Catholic Church increased by 15.4 million, for a total of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
The new statistics compare 2019, the last year for which data is available, with 2018 and therefore do not reflect the effects of the global coronavirus outbreak in 2020.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249354/number-of-catholics-in-asia-and-africa-continues-to-rise
Today, the Church celebrates Pope St. John Paul II. Born Karol Józef Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, he was the first non-Italian Pope in more than 400 years.
John Paul II is remembered for, among many other things, his deep prayer life, extensive travels, dialogue with other religions, and prolific writings during his 27-year papacy. In 2019, the Polish bishops’ conference called for the Polish pope to be granted the title of Doctor of the Church.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-paul-ii-713