The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has called on the Canadian government to revise Bill C-41, the proposed Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act, arguing that its provisions on advance requests for euthanasia raise serious ethical, legal, and human rights concerns.
In a parliamentary brief released Nov. 12, the bishops urged members of Parliament to separate two distinct issues in the legislation: the permanent exclusions of mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition for eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) and the proposed authorization of advance requests for euthanasia.
Bill C-41 was introduced in Parliament on Oct. 27 and is at its second reading in the House of Commons.
The CCCB also called for greater investment in palliative care, healthcare, and practical supports for people living with serious illnesses, disabilities, and declining independence.
Mosul honors 2 Christian martyrs as questions remain over return of displaced families
Two streets in Mosul, Iraq, now bear the names of Christian clergy killed during years of violence against the city's Christian community.
ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported that the latest dedication honors Syriac Orthodox Father Paul Iskandar, who was killed in 2006, with the street outside St. Ephrem Cathedral named in his memory. A nearby street was previously named after Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who died following his abduction in 2008.
Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf welcomed the recognition but cautioned that symbolic gestures alone cannot encourage displaced Christians to return. He stressed that genuine security and stability are essential for rebuilding trust and restoring the Christian presence in Mosul.
Irish archbishop draws attention to 'threat of digitally enabled human trafficking'
The archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, has called for "renewed and collective action against human trafficking" in the face of "advances in digital technology [that] are creating new opportunities for the exploitation of vulnerable people."
Martin made the comments in a keynote address at the 20th anniversary conference of Act to Prevent Trafficking on Nov. 10 at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in Dublin. He drew attention to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and "the growing threat of digitally enabled trafficking and new forms of modern slavery."
Indonesian bishops call for Church to address poverty, other major challenges
Following their plenary assembly Nov. 4–10, the Indonesian bishops called on the Catholic Church to "move beyond pastoral statements and programs and take concrete action to address poverty, environmental degradation, and other challenges facing the country," LiCAS News reported.
The bishops made the statement at the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, which focused on the theme "Building a Sustainable Economy and Our Common Home." The bishops also stressed the need to translate Church teachings and pastoral commitments into practical initiatives that respond to the needs of communities.
Catholics join network urging EU to create new agriculture policy
A coalition of faith-based organizations working on food systems across the 27 European Union member states has called on European policymakers to strengthen environmental protections, support small-scale farmers, and promote sustainable food production in the next Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034.
In its position paper titled "A Christian Vision for the New Common Agricultural Policy," published in October, the Our Daily Bread Network argues that EU agricultural policy should reflect Christian principles of justice, stewardship of creation, and solidarity with farmers and consumers. It describes the relationship between farmers, the land, and animals as a covenant that must be protected through responsible agricultural practices.
The report identifies three priorities: justice for farmers, justice for all the living world, and justice for the people of Europe, and also stresses that greater flexibility for EU member states in implementing agricultural policy must be accompanied by accountability, transparent spending, and measurable environmental outcomes.
Oman's first Catholic church celebrates 50 years
A house of prayer established in 1977 in Oman for international workers is now a parish serving tens of thousands and is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
LiCAS News reported that an inaugural Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Ruwi, Muscat, celebrated by the apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap, on Nov. 6 opened the celebrations, which will run through Nov. 5, 2027. The golden jubilee marking the parish's service in the Arabian Peninsula will highlight "the history and missionary role of the country's Catholic community, which includes migrants from different nations."
Iraqi Christian political blocs clash over migration ministry
A dispute between Iraq's Christian political blocs, Sowayana and Babylon, has intensified over control of the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, a cabinet portfolio traditionally allocated to the Christian community, according to ACI MENA.
Although Babylon holds only two of the five parliamentary seats reserved for Christians, it argues that its alliance with the powerful Coordination Framework (the primary ruling political coalition) gives it sufficient political influence to secure the ministry. Its opponents question whether such alliances reflect the independent political will of Iraqi Christians.
The controversy raises a broader concern: whether political leaders will prioritize competition for government positions or address the emigration, displacement, property rights, and declining population threatening Iraq's historic Christian communities.
135-year-old Catholic school in England shuts down
A Catholic school that opened in 1891 and has been at the heart of a rural town in Dorset, England, has shut down suddenly, citing the Labour government's VAT (value-added tax) on private education. Parents, families, and teachers have formed a working group to reopen the school.
Implemented at the start of 2025, the Labour budget confirmed plans to apply VAT, an indirect consumption tax added to most products and services sold by registered businesses, to private school fees, as well as the plan to end charitable rate relief for private schools.
The school is known for some of its famous alumni, including actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Baroness Dido Harding. The closure has affected 600 pupils and 180 members of staff.
The company's chief executive, Hugh Dickinson, said they had not been able to overcome mounting financial pressures despite every effort to turn it around. The Catholic Schools Trust, a charity that holds the school's land and buildings, called the closure is "deeply concerning."
Isabella Reed contributed to this report.
