The week ahead: A new Prime Minister, SSPX developments and Second Family baby news

The most consequential event this week, UK-side, will be Andy Burnham’s accession as Prime Minister, an office he has sought to take from Keir Starmer for some time. The tide turned in Burnham’s favour following his victory in the Makerfield by-election – a seat vacated to get him to No 10. Burnham had said in 2009 that three things were important in his life apart from his family: Everton, the Labour Party and the Catholic Church “in that order”. His views differ with the Church on a number of issues, though in 2023 he did give Pope Francis a signed Manchester United shirt, who counted Burnham among his fans. Despite not being particularly devoted, Britain’s seventh Prime in 10 years will be denominationally Catholic, which will make for two unprecedented starts to his tenure. Details surrounding the murder of Ann Widdecombe, who police believe died on Wednesday July 8 at around 12:30pm, remain slim. Counter terrorism police confirmed that they believed the attack, which they described as “brutal”, to have been targeted, as they announced on July 13 that they had taken over the investigation. A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday July 11 in South Yorkshire, though little else is known, and police have been adamant they do not want the public to engage in speculation. Widdecombe was a devout practising Catholic, and her death – and the announcement that she was murdered – have shocked Catholics across the UK. In Rome, as across the global Church, much attention will continue to be paid this week to the status of the Society of St Pius X (SSPX). The Society was declared excommunicated following its illicit consecrations of bishops, but has issued a formal decree in response. As a result, the excommunications are temporarily suspended. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has 30 days to respond, but it is not known whether it will take the full time to do so. The dispute has brought the Latin Mass back into the headlines, and so expect this week to follow suit. Some traditionally-minded Catholics hope that recent calls for the lifting of restrictions may have an effect on Rome, but an institution as old as the Catholic Church moves slowly. The Transalpine Redemptorists, a sedevacantist group based in Scotland, appear set to proceed with the illicit episcopal consecration of their founder and Superior General, Fr Michael Mary F.Ss.R. The consecration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 25. In May 2026, the group declared itself sedevacantist, reversing the reconciliation with the Vatican that had taken place in 2008. The Bishop of Aberdeen, in whose diocese the planned consecration is due to take place, has warned Catholics not to attend. In the US, the Second Family celebrated the birth of their son, Alec Neel Vance, on Sunday morning. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Vice President JD Vance joked that his wife was “like 39 weeks pregnant” and that he might be whisked off the set at any moment if she went into labour. Usha Vance is the first Second Lady in modern history to be pregnant while her husband is in office. The last First Lady to give birth while her husband was President was Jacqueline Kennedy, who delivered Patrick Bouvier Kennedy in 1963.