While two other — much larger — British regions voted against legalizing it this past year, the Isle of Man became the first place in the British Isles to pass an assisted suicide bill through its legislature. This change in the law comes at an interesting time as Scotland and England each separately voted against legalizing assisted suicide in 2026, Scotland in March and England in September.
On October 20, Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois vetoed legislation which, if enacted, would have permitted abortion during the first trimester. The parliament had approved the bill by 13 votes to 12 in early September.
A statement from the Archdiocese of Denver noted that Archbishop James Golka and other bishops prayed for President Trump in the White House, and noted “continued conversation on the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death, and the God-given dignity of every person.” According to the Denver Catholic, citing the While House faith director, Jenny Korn, who posted about it on X, the bishops met with the US president on October 22, and spoke with him about “religious freedom, school choice, family tax credits, religious visas, and life.” The Denver archdiocesan statement noted that Arch
Canada has one of the most expansive programs in existence for “medical assistance in dying” (MAiD): With Quebec having the highest proportion of people choosing MAiD worldwide, some call it “the euthanasia capital of the world.” As more than 76,000 people have died through MAiD through 2024 (the latest available report), Catholic and pro-life groups and mental-health advocates have raised objections, especially with an expansion planned for March 2027 that would allow people whose only medical condition is mental illness to be eligible for MAiD. Even The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Cardinal Wim Eijk, chair of the Dutch bishops' conference and a medical ethics expert, criticized the euthanasia of a nearly two-year-old child in the Netherlands, stating that true mercy involves providing adequate palliative care rather than ending a life. The child, born prematurely with severe health issues, was euthanized despite some consulting physicians believing the child was not continuously suffering unbearably and that alternative treatments were available, with a Dutch review committee later concluding the physician acted with due care.
Pope Leo, speaking in Lourdes shortly after France legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia, stated that causing death under the guise of false compassion must be rejected. He emphasized that it is impossible to regard causing death as something normal and that what is legal is not necessarily right.
After Cardinal Blase Cupich, two orders of nuns, and a small-town pharmacist sued the state of Illinois over its new assisted suicide law, a judge granted a temporary reprieve. While the new law took effect in Illinois on September 12, the plaintiffs are not required to comply with it while their case is being resolved. Read More… Reprieve for now: Illinois assisted suicide law
The UK Parliament voted 286 to 270 to reject the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would have legalized assisted suicide for adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live. Opponents, including disability rights advocates and Archbishop John Sherrington, argued the bill posed risks to vulnerable people and emphasized the need for better palliative and social care support instead.
