CNE's Podcast: Euthanasia in the UK; Notre Dame reopening in France; AI Jesus in a Swiss cathedral; Hate crime debate in Poland; Conscientious objectors in Ukraine
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NewsRound Europe is CNE’s news podcast. It has a bulletin with some remarkable news topics from the European continent. And at the end, we have a Question & Answer with a colleague about an article.
British lower house OKs bill to approve assisted suicide
Much controversy remains after Britain's House of Commons passed a bill to allow assisted suicide in the country. German-Christian publication, Pro, reported that the vote had a majority approval of 330 votes to 275.
But the assisted suicide procedure has caveats. These include a verified terminal illness, the authorisation of two doctors and consent from a High Court judge. Legal assistance is also available for applicants.
However, the bill still has points that need addressing. It is unclear whether doctors can bring up assisted suicide to their patients. Opponents also cite that countries tend to invest more in palliative care if assisted suicide is not an option. On the other side, supporters see it as a means of providing dignity to those suffering. Several religious leaders have already signed a petition to prevent the bill's passage. It could lead from the right to die to a duty to die in the nation's healthcare system, they say.
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But the bill's full passage is not yet completed. It still has to undergo a second reading. It also has to be passed by the parliament's committees, the House of Lords, and then signed by the monarchy.
Nortre Dame plans reopening ceremony in France
Moving on to France, Notre Dame in Paris will reopen its doors after being closed for over five years. In 2019, a fire had damaged the church, leading to years of renovations. According to its website, Notre Dame De Paris, the reopening festivities will take place starting on December seventh. The church announced that there will be several concerts for visitors to enjoy from its opening day and until Pentecost which is in June.
The December seventh event will feature a service by the Archbishop of Paris. The Archbishop will lead the ceremony to officially open the doors and the church singing from Psalm 121.
Many government and Catholic church heads are also set to attend. Another event in the reopening will also take place on December eighth. It will feature a Catholic Mass, and it is set to include around 170 bishops from France and across the world.
Swiss city introduces AI Jesus for church confessionals
Now imagine yourself talking about your current relationship or confessing your greatest fear to a robotic Jesus. Yes, you heard that right. That's what visitors can do at one Swiss church. According to German-Christian publication, Pro, visitors of St. Peter's Cathedral in Lucerne have been able to speak to an AI Jesus. In the church's confessional booth, the AI Jesus can listen to your confessions and answer questions about your life's problems. Visitors can get a response by looking at the AI Jesus through a computer screen.
The project entitled Deus In Machina has been coordinated by the church and the Immersive Realities Lab at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The AI Jesus can speak in one-hundred languages and is programmed using the Bible as well as various theological texts.
While the project has sparked much controversy, the AI confessionals are not intended to simulate ones that are officiated by human priests. The developers also say to Pro that the project is meant for greater reflection regarding AI and its role in religion.
Poland wants to change its hate crime laws
Coming to Poland, you may face a prison sentence if you are convicted of a crime that relates to a person's sexual orientation or gender.
The Polish government proposed to amend their hate crime laws to include sexual orientation, gender, age, and disability. The Notes From Poland report also says that these offences can be punishable with prison terms of up to three years.
In Poland, it is already a crime if you make insults against someone's ethnic, national, racial, or religious affiliation. The government says that the proposed law now meets international criteria when it comes to current regulations on hate speech and hate crimes.
This addition has largely been led by the liberal Civic Platform party and by its prime minister Donald Tusk. Tusk has approved the bill, and it is now on its way to parliament. If passed by parliament, it will go on President Andrzej Duda's desk who is from the conservative Law and Justice party. Notes From Poland also said that Duda has previously criticised the LGBT movement and has called it "evil."
Penalties for conscientious objectors on the rise in Ukraine
Last but certainly not least, we come to Ukraine where the number of religious convictions against conscientious objectors have spiked. Conscientious objectors are those who choose not to fight in a war because of their moral or religious beliefs. A report from Human Rights Without Frontiers revealed that the Jehovah's Witness community and their leaders have particularly been affected. Police and prosecutors as of late October were looking at over 300 cases against those who identify as conscientious objectors. At least 280 of those cases are from Jehovah's Witnesses. Other targeted religious groups have included Adventists, Baptists, and Pentecostals. If convicted, prison sentences can be up to three years.
Although the laws in Ukraine protects most religious groups against penalties, this has not always been the case. Adventist, Dmytro Zelinsky has been affected by the government's crackdown on conscientious objectors. Zelinsky has since appealed the decision within Ukraine's supreme court. A final ruling will likely not come for several months, according to the report.
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