In the news - what's happening here and in the wider world

Charlie Gard - The Fight for Life

The Bath Catholic University Chaplain, Father Bill M O.S,M. of the Servite Province of the Isles in the UK taking part in the University of Bath Graduation ceremonies stopped to chat with the young people protesting that Charlie Gard should be supported in the baby’s fight for life. He talked about the Holy Father’s intervention in the matter in support of Charlie and how Pope Francis has expressed his compassion for critically-ill 10 month old Charlie Gard and his parents and sides with them and says their son should be treated. He is reported to have said that the parents, who are spending the last days of their 10 month old son's life with him, after being given more time before his life-support is turned off, should be allowed to do anything they can to get treatment for the baby boy.

Charlie is thought to be one of 16 children in the world to have mitochondrial depletion syndrome. The illness causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage. Father Bill, OSM, wearing a Pro-Life badge reading “Give Life a Chance” joined his support and urged the students and everybody to join in a campaign of Prayer for the little Boy and all children whose lives are at risk and who are suffering.
Last week The European Court of Human Rights rejected a plea from Chris Gard and Connie Yates, to take their son to the US for experiential medical treatment. It also ruled that the interim measure requiring doctors to continue giving life-support to the Charlie could be lifted.

A statement from Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, on Sunday said the Pope prays for 10-month old Charlie Gard's parents and hopes "that their desire to accompany and care for their own child to the end is not ignored." The Vatican spokesman said the Pope followed "with affection and emotion the case of little Charlie Gard and expresses his own closeness to his parents".