On October 20, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein exercised his veto power for the first time, blocking a law that would have permitted abortion on request during the first three months of pregnancy. The legislation, passed by the Landtag with a narrow margin of 13 to 12, was rejected because the prince stated it was incompatible with protecting unborn life. According to the royal house, the decision aims to support women in difficult situations while safeguarding fundamental legal values. The law originated from a popular initiative by the pro-abortion network My Voice My Choice. The prince's stance aligns with the mission of the Sophie von Liechtenstein Foundation, founded by Princess Sofia, which provides psychological and economic aid to pregnant women.
Translated from ItalianoAlso reported by 2 outlets
The 98-year-old Albanian Cardinal and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem urged prayers for world leaders following severe religious persecution. In other developments, speakers at the Single Friendly Church Network conference advocated for churches to fully value single people. Additionally, Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois blocked legislation easing abortion restrictions, favoring support for pregnant women. Meanwhile, a priest presented a book to Pope Leo XIV concerning the 'Divine Child of the Miracle' devotion, inspired by Peru’s Eucharistic miracle. These events highlight diverse challenges and initiatives within the global church community across multiple regions.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Walter Martin on UnsplashPersecuted church
Andorra and Liechtenstein, two small European nations with Catholic majorities, face distinct abortion debates. Andorra’s government aims to decriminalize abortion by April 2027, navigating complex ties with the Holy See and Coprince Bishop Josep Lluís Serrano Pentinat. Meanwhile, Liechtenstein’s parliament narrowly approved legalization within 12 weeks, but Hereditary Prince Alois intends to veto the measure. Both cases highlight tensions between democratic legislation, religious conscience, and constitutional authority, illustrating how Catholic institutional roles influence political outcomes in these microstates.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Prince Louis of Liechtenstein announced he will veto a proposed law allowing abortion during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The small European principality currently permits the procedure only in cases of grave danger to the woman's life or health, or resulting from sexual crimes. The prince, a practicing Catholic, stated that protecting unborn life is a fundamental ethical value. This follows a similar 2011 attempt where voters rejected the reform. Liechtenstein's constitution grants the monarch significant powers, including the right to veto legislation, a power citizens reaffirmed in a 2012 referendum. The announcement reopens debate on abortion rights in the country.
A Catholic priest's appeal against a child sexual abuse conviction has been rejected by the Koblenz Regional Court in Germany. The court upheld the March 2025 sentence of eight months' imprisonment on probation, originally issued by the Montabaur District Court. The prosecutor's appeal for a harsher penalty was also dismissed. The priest was found guilty of abusing a child in a parish house in Liechtenstein in 2019 while serving as a pastor there. He currently resides in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Landgericht Koblenz confirmed the lower court's decision on Monday, according to the Catholic News Agency (KNA).
The Archbishopric of Vaduz in Liechtenstein has refused to provide personal files to Swiss researchers investigating historical sexual abuse. The diocese stated that Liechtenstein data protection laws prohibit sharing personnel records with foreign entities, citing violations of privacy rights. The University of Zurich team requested access to records from priests who served under the former Diocese of Chur before Vaduz was established in 1997. While denying access, the Archbishopric directed affected individuals to an independent ombudsman established by Apostolic Administrator Benno Elbs. Researchers noted that the transfer of archives complicates the study of abuse between 1950 and 1997.
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
