Music superstar Justin Bieber said he has God to thank for his ‘Male Artist of the Year’ award at the weekend.  Picking up the gong, along with the Best Fan Army prize, at the iHeartRadio Awards in California, the Canadian singer songwriter said: “[Thanks to] God… I’ve experienced some tough times. I think all of…

The Capuchin Provincial has called on politicians to put the country’s “national interest” first in order to quickly form a new government. Speaking at a Mass for peace and reconciliation at the Capuchin Holy Trinity Church in Cork on Sunday, Bro. Adrian Curran addressed the country’s politicians saying it was time for their “choreography, more…

The Bishop of Ossory has promised that he will shortly give priests a detailed report on controversies around his management of the diocese. Dr Seamus Freeman has been the subject of criticism from many priests in the diocese in recent years and the issue has led to considerable disquiet. The issue has caused what can…

Bishop Brendan Leahy has warned that to rebuild the Church there first needs to be “an acknowledgement in humility of its defects”. Speaking ahead of Limerick’s diocesan synod due to take place this weekend, the bishop said the assembly will be an opportunity to take both the good and the bad of Church life and…

Staff reporter A last minute decision to attend the funeral of a colleague saved the life of a 79-year-old priest. Fr Michael Coen of Kilconly in Co. Galway was due to hear Confessions at Knock Shrine but decided instead to concelebrate the funeral Mass of Fr Michéal Mannion in Clonbur. However, Fr Coen suffered a heart…

Police in the North have launched an investigation after a pro-life campaigner claimed she was “pushed” by a Sinn Féin member at an Easter Rising commemoration. According to The Irish News, Catherine Sewell said she and her husband Ryan were manhandled as they tried to distribute anti-abortion leaflets at the event in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone,…

Bishop Brendan Leahy has urged those responsible for thefts at two Limerick city churches “to examine their conscience”. Almost €1,000 was stolen in thefts which occurred in St Paul’s Church in Dooradoyle and St Oliver Plunkett’s Church in Mungret. Speaking on local radio Bishop Leahy said the money was “donated to the Church for activities…

A prominent republican priest has strongly rebuked Bob Geldof’s remarks comparing the leaders of the 1916 Rising to jihadi suicide bombers. Fr Joe McVeigh, who is based in Co. Fermanagh, told The Irish Catholic that the controversial singers’ comparison was “outrageous”. “Normally I do not pay much attention to anything Geldof has to say. He…

Schools need to embrace Christian meditation The Diocese of Elphin has urged Catholic schools to try Christian meditation, noting that the practice appears absent from many schools in the diocese. In a statement on Facebook, the diocese said there is “a lot of talk about ‘mindfulness’ these days”, adding that it was “strange” that so few people seem to be…

Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons has said that the Catholic Church is right to say abortion is a sin, because it harms women. The Cork-based actor, who is married to Irish actress Sinead Cusack, said that while he believed “that women should be allowed to make the decision”, that he also believed the Church is correct…