Bishop Philip writes…

It’s back – the assisted suicide bill is set to return to Parliament. Yesterday, the Labour MP Lauren Edwards agreed to devote her private member’s bill to this cause. “We owe it to all those terminally ill people and their families who are depending on this bill to ensure that parliament can come to a final decision on the question of choice at the end of life,” she said. “And I believe it undermines public trust in our democracy more widely if we cannot deliver on a measure that is supported by a very large majority of voters in all parts of the country.” Regardless of how many people think this or how many think that, as Catholics we need to proclaim clearly the dignity and value of all human life from conception to natural death. Life is a gift from God. Thou Shalt Not Kill is a basic norm of civilisation. It’s wrong to ask doctors, dedicated to the care of the sick, to kill the sick or help them to kill themselves. We need good palliative care not lethal drugs. Let us pray for the energy to mobilise, argue and persuade everyone to oppose this bill of death and instead, to support life.

Meanwhile, welcome to e-News Issue 537 (2026/21) for Tuesday 16th June 2026. Talking of life and death, this coming Sunday is a Day of Prayer for Life and an opportunity to ask the Lord of heaven and earth to send the Holy Spirit upon us all that we may value human life from conception to natural death, praying especially for the safety of the unborn child, the sick, the elderly and the dying. Thank you for all who have sent in their good news from the parishes. In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart, may the Lord bless you with His love during these summer days.

With all good wishes and an assurance of my prayers,

In Corde Iesu

+Philip

Bishop of Portsmouth