“A slippery slope. ” When asked about the evolution of the practice of euthanasia in his country, Father Marc Desmet Jesuit and chief of a palliative care service in one of the biggest hospitals in Belgium, Hasselt, answer without hesitation. Fifteen years after the decriminalization of euthanasia, this Flemish doctor can only see the evolution of the law. Initially conceived in 2002 as a possibility open to people suffering in an unbearable and constant way from an incurable serious illness, it has since continued to expand: people with mental disorders represent 19% of patients euthanized, and it is possible since 2014 to euthanize minors, even if they are not able to give their consent. As for the figures – 15,000 people in total have been euthanized – they have steadily increased, from 235 euthanasia in 2003 to 2024 in 2016 (2% of deaths in the country).

To reflect on these developments, several researchers met last month at the University of Antwerp, for a colloquium intended to establish a critical assessment of fifteen years of application of this law in the country. This state of affairs was organized while the Belgians have been debating for several weeks a new evolution of the law, to allow “the elderly who have the feeling of a fulfilled life,” also called “tired of living,” even if they do not suffer from any pathology, to access euthanasia. Seven out of ten Belgians are in favour of such an evolution, according to an RTL / Le Soir / Ipsos poll published in mid-September.

Following days of violence and backlash after US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Vatican appealed for “wisdom and prudence” to prevail.

The Holy See “reiterates its own conviction that only a negotiated solution between Israelis and Palestinians can bring a stable and lasting peace and guarantee the peaceful coexistence of two states within internationally recognised borders,” the Vatican said on 10th December statement.

President Trump announced his decision on 6th Dec. to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, fulfilling a promise he made during his presidential campaign.

The announcement sparked anti-US protests throughout Asia and the Middle East, including a four-day protest in the Palestinian territories, Reuters reported. An Israeli security guard in Jerusalem, the report said, was in critical condition after he was stabbed by a Palestinian man at the city’s bus station.

Pope Francis expressed his “sorrow for the clashes in recent days” and called for world leaders to renew their commitment for peace in the Holy Land, the Vatican said.

The Pope “raises fervent prayers so that the leaders of nations, in this time of special gravity, commit themselves to avert a new spiral of violence, responding with words and deeds to the desires of peace, justice and security for the populations of that battered land,” the Vatican said.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has condemned President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In a statement, he said: ‘Those who claim divine rights for themselves to physical property on earth are false prophets.God does not discriminate between Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Taos, atheists – or any other people.’

The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, joined an ecumenical group of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in a statement issued shortly before the President’s Speech. “We are fully aware and appreciative of how you are dedicating special attention to the status of Jerusalem in these days.” they said.

The statement, signed by 13 Church leaders, continued: “Our land is called to be a land of peace. Jerusalem, the city of God, is a city of peace for us and for the world. Unfortunately, though, our holy land with Jerusalem the Holy city, is today a land of conflict.”

Poland’s new Prime Minister has called on the European Union to return to its “proper values” and traditional Christian roots. A Western-educated former banker who was sworn in on Dec 11, Mateusz Morawiecki said his dream was to “re-Christianise the EU” in an interview with a Catholic channel. Poland is a “great, proud nation,” he told TV Trwam, adding that it would not submit to “blackmail” from European leaders. His comments come after the European Parlia-ment passed a resolution threa-tening sanctions against Poland if it passed a series of measures, one of which is a plan to restrict abortions for foetal impairment. The EU parliament also criticised proposed judicial reforms that would force two fifths of the Supreme Court’s judges to retire and overhaul the body that appoints new judges. When asked about the risk of the EU cutting funds to Poland, Morawiecki recalled former French president François Hollande, saying: “I do remember one former president telling us earlier this year ‘you have values, we have funds.’ Well, I would love to help the West with proper values.”

Clergy rank below forecasters and newsreaders in terms of public trust, but are still well ahead of politicians. Public trust in members of the clergy has fallen substantially over the past 30 years, according to a poll by Ipsos MORI, although priests still enjoy relatively high trust compared to other professions. A survey of 998 British adults found that 65% say they trust priests and clergy to tell the truth – down 20% from 1983, and down four since last year.

The figures mean that clergy are the 10th most trusted profession in Britain, ranking below television newsreaders, weather forecasters, nurses and doctors. Despite the drop, more people still say they trust clergy than do not. 30% said they do not trust members of the clergy to tell the truth, giving them a net approval rating of 35%.

Among all demographic groups, clergy also retain a higher level of trust than distrust, achieving particularly high ratings among the over-65 (73%), people in the highest social grades (75%), people with degrees (69%), and people in rural areas (70%).

Young people born in 1996 or later are also much more likely to trust the clergy than those born between 1980 and 1995. 66% of the younger group say they trust priests and clergy, compared to just 54% of the older group. Priests also still rank far above politicians, who only score 17%, and journalists, who have 27%. By contrast, 80% of respondents said they did not trust politicians to tell the truth, and 69% said the same of journalists.

The figures come as religious observance continues to decline in Britain. In September, a survey by the National Centre for Social Research found 53 per cent of adults now describe themselves as having “no religion”, including 71% of 18 to 25 year-olds.