Month: February 2019

Help parishioners aid refugees, bishop urges

Parishioners need to be helped welcome refugees into their communities and cannot simply be taken for granted, Elphin’s Bishop Kevin Doran has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the publication of a joint statement with Bishop Francis Duffy of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Doran said “our responsibilities as a nation under international law, and…

Was Nora too nice for politics?

I was sorry to learn of the death of Limerick’s Nora Bennis on February 11, aged 78. Nora had been a defender of a woman’s right to be a homemaker, founding the Irish Mothers Working at Home Association  as well as leading the Solidarity Movement which supported family and Faith values. She stood for election to…

Reducing marriage step by step

The Government is set to erode the status of marriage even more, writes David Quinn   Ireland is set to have another divorce referendum this year. It is to take place on May 24, the same day as the Local and European Elections. You might be surprised that we are to vote on divorce again.…

A rise within a fall

Accord’s marriage preparation figures may be dropping, but this disguises an increase in its importance, writes Greg Daly   2018 saw a continuing year-on-year drop in numbers of people attending sacramental preparation courses offered by Accord, the Catholic marriage care service, but as usual it’s worth getting behind the headline figures. On the face of things,…

Churches sinking over dwindling contributions, bishop warns laity

Colm
 Fitzpatrick 
and
 Greg
 Daly   Parishioners must play a more active role in keeping their local churches afloat, Waterford and Lismore’s bishop Phonsie Cullinan has warned. Dr Cullinan said that lay people are called to be involved in and support the Church which at a “very nuts and bolts” level requires financial contribution in their local parish. His…