Pastoral Letter - April 2025

Webmaster • April 5, 2025

TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS (END OF LIFE) BILL


My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,


I wish to speak with you today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I have made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.


The passage of the Bill through Parliament will lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.


There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.


The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.


One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended.


What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?


In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.


It is a sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.


I am sure that you will share these concerns. It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.


Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.


In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own.’


We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.



May God bless you all,

+Richard

Bishop of Arundel & Brighton

Church mouse Update 19th October 2025

By Webmaster • October 18, 2025
Just a few snaps of the accommodation that Fr D has found for himself on this year’s holiday. Temperatures are holding up well and he has found some great places to eat . .

Church mouse Update 12th October 2025

By Church Mouse Update • October 12, 2025
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Well, Fr D has been away for a week now, with no sign of a post card. I knew that it must be that time of year again when he got the big box on wheels down from the attic a few days before he disappeared . . . . . This is a map of Lefkada which is where Fr D has gone off to this time. The airport is actually just south of Preveza which is on the mainland (about twenty-five minutes from the island). He last went to this island the October before the infamous ‘lockdown’ when Covid hit and all travel and holidays were banned. Fr D particularly likes this island because there is not much in the way of hotels having been built destroying the beauty of hundreds of fishing villages around the coast. It is also famous for the yachting that takes place all around the coast (and at least two of our own parishioners have been known to go on yachting holidays around the island.!). Fr D is staying in the capital.

WORLD MISSIONS SUNDAY

By Webmaster • October 11, 2025
This is a subtitle for your new post

Christmas Bazzar Grand Draw Tickets

By Webmaster • October 11, 2025
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR GRAND DRAW TICKETS - If you were not able to collect Christmas Grand Draw Tickets after Mass over the last two weekends please make a point of collecting then as you leave Mass this weekend. ALL parishioners are being asked to take four books of tickets to try and sell to family, friends, and work colleagues over the next few weeks before the ‘big event.’ The Grand Draw is the major ‘money spinner’ of the Bazaar and we hope to have sold as many tickets as possible before the doors open on the day; this is also a way of everyone in our community getting involved! Don’t forget that if you are the

PRISONERS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES: A FRESH START

By Webmaster • October 10, 2025
For over fifty years now, the annual Prisons Week has provided an important focus for Christian communities to pray for the needs of all those affected by prison: prisoners and their families, victims of crime, those working in the criminal justice system, and the many people who are involved in caring for those affected by crime on the inside and outside of our prisons. Prisons week raises awareness and generates prayer. It motivates volunteers to step forward and give their time and talents, in prisons and in their own communities. It also provides an annual focus and reason for Christians to work together, building capacity and motivation to make a difference for people who are out of sight and often out of mind. Our Retiring Collection next weekend is for the work of P.A.C.T. (Prisons Advice and Care Trust).

MUSIC GROUP REHEARSALS FOR PARISH CAROL SERVICE

By Webmaster • October 10, 2025
Our Music Group is presently practicing for our Parish Carol Service on Sunday 21st December ; if you are a musician or someone who likes to sing in a group with others you are warmly welcomed to join the group; Scheduled rehearsals are: Tue. 14th Oct. 19.30, Sat. 25th Oct. 10.30, Tue. 4th Nov. 19.30, Wed. 26th Nov. 19.30, Wed. 10 th Dec. 19.30, and Sat. 20th Dec. 10.30.

St John Henry Newman . . .

By Webmaster • October 3, 2025
St John Henry Newman, the 19th century’s most important English-speaking Catholic theologian, spent the first half of his life as an Anglican and the second half as a Roman Catholic. He was a priest, popular preacher, writer, and eminent theologian in both churches. Born in London, England, he studied at Oxford’s Trinity College, was a tutor at Oriel College, and for 17 years was vicar of the university church, St Mary the Virgin. He eventually published eight volumes of Parochial and Plain Sermons as well as two novels. His poem, “Dream of Gerontius,” was set to music by Sir Edward Elgar. After 1833, Newman was a prominent member of the Oxford Movement, which emphasized the Church’s debt to the Church Fathers and challenged any tendency to consider truth as completely subjective. Historical research made Newman suspect that the Roman Catholic Church was in closest continuity with the Church that Jesus created. In 1845, he was received into full communion as a Catholic. Two years later he was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome and joined the Congregation of the Oratory, founded three centuries earlier by Saint Philip Neri.  Returning to England, Newman founded Oratory houses in Birmingham and London and for seven years served as rector of the Catholic University of Ireland.

Church Mouse Update 5th October 2025

By Webmaster • October 3, 2025
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . A very busy week indeed this time as Fr D got himself ready to go off on holiday (it seems to involve a lot of preparation), as well as organising things for our Harvest Thanksgiving Mass and Social . . . . . . On Friday afternoon (it always is!) last week it was noticed that the internet was not working anywhere in the Parish plant. Fortunately the Newsletter was able to be printed thanks to the diocesan IT man loaning the Parish a portable ‘plug-in’ system for the weekend. Openreach decided that they could not attend with an engineer until Monday between 08.00 and 13.00. Fr D met with both parents and candidates for First Reconciliation in the Parish Centre on Saturday morning for their third session of input (Fr D was able to explain to the children that the reason that there are ten commandments is because most people have ten fingers - these were what amounted to ‘visual aids’ around the camp fires whilst the chosen people wandered in the desert for forty years!). On Monday Fr D was busy concentrating on getting the text of several newsletters sorted when the Openreach telephone engineer arrived to look at the internet and phones. After repeating much of what Fr D had already done in the way of obvious checks he went over to the local telephone pole to have a look at things. As it turned our two BT vans had been working in the same spot on Thursday afternoon (underground) and the engineer discovered that they had managed to damage the cable to the church and Parish Office. By this stage Fr D had discovered that the line into the Presbytery (used for broadband and TV) was also out. However, the engineer could only deal with the church and Parish Centre line as that was what he was called out for! Fr D immediately got on to BT and ordered another engineer’s visit (and it goes beyond that as Fr D knows that the Sister’s broadband and telephone line disappeared on Friday too!). Fr D was left with another engineer coming between 12.00 and 14.00 on Wednesday afternoon.  Tuesday, after Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition, Fr D was off down to the diocesan offices for the last time before his holiday. When he got back in the late afternoon he needed to concentrate on getting some payments made to various suppliers and contractors - he hadn’t been able to do this before because the broadband was down. He also sorted the Intercessions for whilst he was going away . . . . .

A little goes a long way . . .(27th Sunday Ordinary Year C)

By Webmaster • October 3, 2025
Although all three readings today seem only superficially related, each implores the readers to persevere with confidence through times of trial. The prophet Habakkuk cries out to God for deliverance in a time of crisis. God responds, not with an immediate rescue, but with a promise that he will ultimately save “the just one.” Likewise, St. Paul encourages Timothy to live from the spirit of power, love, and self-control rather than falling back into cowardice. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the apostles that even a little faith will suffice to do great things. Taken together, the scriptures for the day offer consolation and strength for everyone struggling with the challenges of daily discipleship in an imperfect world. Travelling with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, the apostles acknowledge to Jesus that they don’t think they have enough faith. Instead of berating them for this, Jesus surprises them with the assurance that even a tiny amount of faith is enough to work miracles. If faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to uproot a mulberry tree, Jesus’ followers won’t have any excuses for why they can’t do great things in his name. In the meantime, while they are praying for greater faith, the disciples can do what they can with what they have. With faith the size of a mustard seed a person can plough, tend sheep, or serve at table and all of those actions can give glory to God. As St. Teresa of Calcutta wrote, we all have “the opportunity to be come holy through the works of love that we do because holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a very simple duty for you, for me-you in your position, in your work, and I and others, each one of us in the work” (Where There Is Love, There Is God). How many times do Christians miss opportunities to serve God because the opportunities seem so trivial or commonplace? Or how many times do we not even attempt to do amazing things because we assume we don’t have what it takes to make a difference? Jesus doesn’t want excuses for not trying.  The second half of the reading changes the subject to the expectations of faithful disciples. We are called to be like servants, going diligently about our work without the expectation of reward (although Jesus promises a reward in other parts of the Gospels). He wants his disciples’ motives to be pure-do the work of God because it is right and good, not because it will profit us personally.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION OPEN MORNING

By Webmaster • October 3, 2025
Saturday 11th October, 10.00 - 13.00 at St Dunstan’s Catholic Church, Shaftesbury Road, Woking GU22 7DT.  Curious about spiritual direction? It’s not about being told what to do, but about having someone walk alongside you as you listen for God’s voice in the middle of daily life. Spiritual direction is a gentle space to grow in your relationship with God, to notice where God is already at work, and to be encouraged in faith, hope and love. The diocese has a network of trained spiritual directors so please join us for tea/coffee from 10.00, a short talk at 10.30 with time for questions, then try a 10 - 15 minute taster session with trained A&B Diocese spiritual directors. Free; all welcome.