Missionaries have called on the Government to make educating girls in the developing world a key priority in Ireland’s foreign aid budget. The call comes in the aftermath of the International Day of the Girl last week. Sr Brigid Tunney, Mission Development Officer for the Loreto Sisters, told The Irish Catholic that targeted funding for…

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick has paid tribute to Munster rugby legend Anthony Foley who died in Paris on October 16.  “Anthony Foley was simply that big of a figure in the lives of every sports fan from Limerick, Clare and, of course, the wider Munster and Ireland fan base,” the bishop said in a…

Staff reporter Legendary footballer Diego Maradona has revealed that his countryman Pope Francis has brought him back to his faith. Speaking at a recent press conference ahead of United for Peace, a friendly soccer match held in aid of the Scholas Occurrentes Foundation, a charity founded by Pope Francis, Maradona said: “I am with Pope Francis,…

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has expressed concern at the inclusion in last weekend’s Citizens’ Assembly meeting of a pro-abortion campaigner who “plans to politicise” the process. As the 99 members of the assembly gathered in Dublin Castle, the PLC revealed that “a very prominent pro-choice campaigner has been tweeting about his membership of the…

John Reid The Catholic Grandparents Association of Ireland (CGA) has rejected the suggestion by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, that grandparents are “insulted” by the suggestion they should receive State support for minding grandchildren.  Minister Zappone has announced a subsidy scheme which will be of benefit only to parents who put their children into childcare, but…

Dromore diocesan changes Bishop John McAreavey has announced a series of new appointments in Dromore. Canon F. Boyle has retired as PP, Saval; Canon G McCrory has retired as PP, Magheradroll; Father Colum Wright has resigned as PP, Aghaderg and Adm., Donaghmore; Fr P.J. Murray, PP, Dromore to be pastor emeritus, Dromore; Fr Brian Brown, PP, Magheralin…

John Reid Trócaire has given a cautious welcome to a major global environmental agreement reached last Saturday in Rwanda.  The landmark agreement limits the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the effort to combat global warming. HFCs are a key contributor to greenhouse gases, and environmental groups hope the Kigali Agreement, which modifies the 1987 Montreal Protocol,…