Irish lawyers have said that if the Eighth Amendment is repealed, the proposed Government legislation would allow abortion on request up to six months. In a statement today a group of almost 200 lawyers, including former judges, said any contrary interpretation of the draft bill has “no rational basis” and that the Government’s proposals will…
After criticism of Ireland’s Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) for their neutral stance in the upcoming referendum, the international confederation has said it is “committed to defending life and the family”. In a blogpost on ssvpglobal.org posted yesterday the General President of SVP, Renato Lima de Oliveira, has described the charity as a…
The Archbishop of Dublin has urged all parishes to hold a special moment of ‘Prayer for Life’ on the weekend of Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20, saying “the Church and believers must always be pro-life”. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin thanked priests in his diocese for their pastoral efforts to promote the protection of the…
Five of Ireland’s most eminent obstetricians and gynaecologists have said they are “horrified” by comments made in recent days by Drs Peter Boylan and Rhona Mahony, and said it is “deeply regrettable” that some campaigners have sought to foster needless fears among voters around issues of maternal health. In a letter provided to the Save…
Pope Francis will now visit Knock during his brief visit to Ireland in August, The Irish Catholic understands. Senior Church sources have indicated that a public announcement will be made shortly, raising hopes that there may still be a change of heart that would see a brief visit to the North added to the itinerary.…
Carpooling and ‘Mass-link’ services to bus isolated parishioners to churches around the country could be ‘creative’ ways of helping rural dioceses cope with declining clerical vocations, Limerick’s Bishop Brendan Leahy has said. The bishop’s comments come against the background of plans for a State-subsidised ‘drink-link’ bus service intended to ward off fears that strict new…
Parishioners play a vital role in informing Mass-goers about Catholic social issues, including the right to life, a bishop has said. Commenting in response to a statement from the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), which lamented the presence of pro-life speakers at Catholic Masses, Ossory’s bishop Dermot Farrell told RTÉ that there is a tradition…
A Celtic FC footballer has praised his education in a Catholic school and said Communion was a proud moment for him and his family. Left-back Kiernan Tierney, who also plays for Scotland’s national team, spoke in a video created to celebrate 100 years of Catholic state education in Scotland. “It’s a great occasion for you…
Plans to reform an American diocese by drastically reducing the number of parishes could offer a ‘radical’ template for rejuvenating the Archdiocese of Dublin, a priest-author has said. The comments come following reports that the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has announced plans to reduce the current 188 parishes to just 57 over the next few…
Asylum seekers hoping to work face “very restrictive” arrangements made by the Department of Justice, who previously expressed concern that allowing people in direct provision to work would worsen the housing crisis. The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) told The Irish Catholic that since May 1, only one application for a work permit has been received…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick