The Irish public believe that medical practitioners should be allowed to conscientiously object to being involved in an abortion, according to new research. At their National Conference in Dublin on October 6, the Pro-Life Campaign released poll findings showing strong public backing for freedom of conscience protections for healthcare workers from having to assist in…
Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington had been told by Vatican officials to withdraw from public life because of rumours about his sexual misconduct, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops has revealed. However, because they were only rumours and not proof, then-Pope Benedict XVI never imposed formal sanctions on the retired Washington…
Over 1,000 young people, who are currently participating or have received the Pope John Paul II Award, gathered on pilgrimage to Knock Shrine at the end of September. Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown celebrated Mass, and was joined by Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan and priests from participating dioceses. The pilgrimage to Knock…
If we’re honest, it will take years before Irish Catholics can look upon this year’s World Meeting of Families and papal visit and say whether or not they were successful. It’s the nature of these kind of things that their true value doesn’t become clear overnight. Few would have thought in 1979, for instance, that…
Following the Pink Ribbon Path by Mary Redmond Ussher (Columba Books, €14.99) This book reminded me in a way of Markings, Dag Hammarskjöld’s only book. Hammarskjöld described his book as “a sort of White Book concerning my talks with myself – and with God”. Both have the same commonplace book structure of the author’s thoughts mingled with…
Christmas time really shouldn’t break the bank, writes Colm Fitzpatrick The Christmas period usually elicits imagery of family gatherings, present-sharing and festive cuisine, but behind this ideal, parents are struggling to cope with the financial costs and burdens that have become part and parcel of this Christian event. And although it seems incongruent to…
Parents are struggling to support their children financially during the Christmas holidays, a Dublin-based priest has said. Speaking about how Christmas has become over-commercialised, Fr James Noonan OCD, Prior of St Teresa’s Church in Dublin’s city-centre, said that buying presents “is starting earlier and earlier every year”, and that even before Hallowe’en, preparing for Christmas…
The world’s youngest cardinal, 51-year-old Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, Central African Republic, insists the key question before the Synod of Bishops is: “What is God trying to tell us through young people?” Finding better ways to pass the Faith on to younger generations is one part of the task, the cardinal told reporters on…
Priests tell Chai Brady we deny the devil’s existence at our peril The Pope’s call to pray to Archangel Michael to protect the Church from the devil this month is a sign that the “evil one is strong at work” according to Irish priests. In a communiqué released by the Vatican at the end…
Leaders of the main religious traditions in Ireland have said it is vital to focus on restoring devolution in the North, which must happen through “ongoing dialogue”. Bishops and religious met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, on October 8 at Stormont House in Belfast. The meeting took…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Peter Costello