Bishop Stock: ‘Do not reject God’s loving gift of life’

Bishop Marcus Stock, Bishop Leeds [Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and Diocese of Hallam], reminds us that intentionally take our own life is a rejection of God’s loving gift of life to us. Bishop Stock makes this call ahead of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, 11 September.

Care for Creation is a theological question

The document “Caring for Our Common Home” calls for a “responsible and fraternal response to the Triune God”. The ecological question is a theological question: the way we care for Creation reveals and shapes our relationship with God. The deterioration of the environment is alarming and urgent action is needed to ensure the sustainability of the planet. Everything is connected: we must listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.

New British Ambassador to the Holy See accredited

Tammy Sandhu presented her credentials to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to become the new British Ambassador to the Holy See. Ms Sandhu is the first woman from an ethnic minority background to hold the prestigious role. Over a third of British Heads of Mission overseas are women and 14% are people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Bishop Neylon joins Pope Leo in prayer for all affected in Nepal floods

Bishop Tom Neylon, lead bishop for Asia, has joined Pope Leo XIV in expressing his sorrow at the devastation and loss of life that is being caused by the floods in Nepal. The flash floods have been caused by the partial collapse of a glacier in the Himalayas on the Tibet-Nepal border.

Pope Leo XIV’s Message has been released for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4) is the theme of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, published in the Bulletin of the Holy See.

The Holy Father’s Message highlights the connection between armed conflict and environmental degradation. Such degradation constitutes both a serious violation of our duty to care for creation, as well as a long-term threat to the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

Act Now: Contact your MP

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.”

Archbishop Sherrington warns of “flawed and dangerous” assisted suicide Bill

'Assisted dying' is a threat to all vulnerable people

Care should be the primary function of our health service

Assisted Suicide legislation could initiate ‘paradigm shift’ in how we value and protect life

Proper care is the right alternative to killing by assisted suicide

Archbishop Longley urges strengthening of palliative care services

Be 'resolute' and 'tireless' in valuing every human life and opposing assisted suicide

Stop fundamentally flawed bill and focus on palliative care

Archbishop welcomes Prime Minister’s support
for palliative care

High quality photos on Flickr

We are proud to provide high-quality professional photography to take our viewers on a journey to the transcendent - to Jesus Christ. Our Flickr photo galleries showcase the life and witness of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Total views of our photos have surpassed 100 million. These images are free to use for non-commercial purposes - the only request is that a simple credit is run: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.

What it takes to deliver quality end of life care

Our Catholic News podcast looks at palliative care, social care and what needs to be ‘fixed’ – as Prime Minister Andy Burnham puts it. Dr Karen Groves MBE, a highly experienced palliative care consultant talks to us about what it takes to deliver gold standard end-of-life care, the existential challenges and what needs to be done to address them, the need for patient-specific integrated services across the care sector and in community settings, care as a ‘team effort’ alongside families, fundraising and legacies, and more. She also challenges the stereotype that the majority of people go to a hospice to die.

Season of Creation

1 September - 4 October 2026

The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on 1 September, is the official start of the Season of Creation, a time of sustained prayer and action which lasts a month and four days. During this season we are encouraged to pray and engage in community events in order to deepen our relationship with God, our neighbour and the earth we share, being ever more attentive to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

Education Sunday

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.

Season of Creation: A Journey of Education and Ecological Conversion

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.

Let’s Journey Together

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.

Come and study with the Maryvale Institute

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.

Adoremus Art Competition

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.

Welcome the Stranger: Defend the right to asylum

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.