A Fianna Fáil TD has refused to answer questions on whether or not he raised the issue of Christian persecution in Iran when he met the country’s ambassador last week. Niall Collins, who is the party’s frontbench spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, met with Masoud Eslami in Dublin for what he described as discussing…
Month: February 2019
Christians and Muslims: forging an honest peace
The View The Pope’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates highlighted the issue of relations with Islam. It has been a recurring theme of this pontificate. It was also a major concern of Pope Benedict, although he was unfairly caricatured as anti-Islamic after his much mis-quoted Regensberg Address in 2006. Far from attacking…
Accord’s counselling service continues to dwindle
There’s been a dramatic decrease in marriage counselling sessions provided by a Catholic agency, with the number of sessions halving in some areas according to new figures. Accord, who provide marriage preparation and counselling services, revealed their 2018 figures this week which show a decrease from 38,881 counselling sessions delivered in 2014 to 24,180 last…
Christian printing business targeted over religious beliefs
A Christian business which refused to print civil partnership ceremony invitations to a gay man has said other groups have been targeting the business because of their decision. Drogheda-based company Beulah Print and Design were ordered to pay €2,500 after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found it had discriminated against a man on the grounds…
Pope’s message doesn’t change Christ’s great commission
Our task is still to make disciples of all nations, write David Quinn Last week, Pope Francis made one of the most important overseas trips of his pontificate so far when he visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Obviously any trip by a Pope to a Muslim nation is important for both historical reasons…
Zappone slams ‘sensationalised’ Tuam newspaper headlines
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone has criticised what she described as sensationalised’ headlines and media reports about the Tuam Mother & Baby Home. Ms Zappone was speaking during a Seanad debate on the issue. She was pressed on the issue by Independent NUI Senator Rónán Mullen who expressed concern on behalf of…
From Belieber to Believer
While many Hollywood celebrities are known for having liberal sexual lifestyles, popstar Justin Bieber has revealed that he remained celibate for a year prior to his 2018 marriage with model Hailey Baldwin, for religious reasons. Speaking with Vogue about his relationship with his now-wife, Bieber confessed to giving up sex for a year, and admitted…
Don’t criminalise helping vulnerable women’
Exclusion zones in Ireland would create a very dangerous precedent for denying freedom of speech and peaceful protest, Carol Nolan TD has said. Ms Nolan said that depicting every pro-life action as “threatening” or “rogue” is outrageous, and shows how “blinkered, political and unbalanced” government policy has come in this area. Her comments come after…
‘Progress’ made in creating secret exorcism team
The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore has confirmed “work is in progress” in forming an exorcism team, but is keeping tight lipped about the facts. The priest heading the deliverance team is “still in training” and his identity can’t be revealed according to DCO Fr Liam Power. After a conversation with the bishop he told…
Collins’ welcome for liturgy for survivors of abuse
Leading anti-abuse campaigner Marie Collins has welcomed an initiative of the Church in Ireland to roll-out special liturgies for victims and survivors across parishes around the country. Ms Collins – who formerly advised Pope Francis on the issue – told The Irish Catholic she believed that liturgies of atonement for survivors of abuse can have…

Colm Fitzpatrick
Breda O'Brien
Chai Brady

David Quinn
Michael Kelly



Greg Daly