Aontú has submitted the Protection of Children (Online Pornographic Material) Bill (2020) to the Dáil, which is set to be discussed in its first stage on Tuesday, November 17. The Bill will make the online provision of pornography to children by internet companies illegal. Commenting on the issue the Bill is intended to deal with, Meath…
The Vatican Secretariat of State’s report on Theodore E. McCarrick provides a glimpse into how a number of witnesses and victims of the former cardinal’s abuse sought numerous ways to alert church officials and were disturbingly aware their allegations might trigger repercussions. Over its 460 pages, the report also reveals how much difference 30 years…
A proposal to apply VAT to devotional candles has been described as effectively “a tax on prayer”. The 2020 Finance Bill proposes to remove a historical protection on white candles which, according to Fr John Carroll of the Ferns Diocese, is akin to taxing “counselling or stress” given the solace many people feel lighting a…
EXCLUSIVE A priest in Co. Cork was warned by gardaí that they would “apply the full rigours of the law”, after he celebrated Mass with a small congregation The Irish Catholic can reveal. The priest, who did not wish to be named, said the garda involved did not specify what the penalty would be, but…
The Trinity College Catholic society has been warned they must stop organising prayer meetings, amidst fears of suspension or funding cuts. Correspondence seen by The Irish Catholic reveals that the Central Societies Committee has written to the Catholic Laurentian Society to inform them that they can no longer advertise or hold prayer meetings under the…
The Irish Order of Jesus and Mary are “overjoyed” after a road in Pakistan was named after an award-winning Irish missionary for her work in education there. A road in Karachi was named after Sr Berchmans Conway RJM due to an initiative of parents of one of the schools in which she taught. Speaking to…
A Co. Louth community has been busy celebrating the success of president-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 American elections. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, parish priest of Cooley, Fr Malachy Conlon, said, “There would be a palpable feeling of pride. Absolutely.” Fr Conlon welcomed Mr Biden to the area during his 2016 visit to Ireland,…
A new EU budget ruling could violate national sovereignty in an “undemocratic and divisive move”, according to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. The EU recently reached an agreement that gives Brussels the green light to cut funding to EU member countries over issues such as human rights and the independence of the judiciary.…
The rabbi of Dublin’s Jewish community has paid tribute to the late Lord Jonathan Sacks who died at the weekend. Rabbi Sacks (72) died after a short illness and was one of the most-respected voices of faith in contemporary Britain and was widely known across the English-speaking world for his writing on multiculturalism and inter-religious…
Irish charity Ruhama has expressed their hope that the review of current sexual offences legislation will result in improved law enforcement and greater public awareness around the issue of prostitution in Ireland. In a statement to The Irish Catholic, Ruhama Communications Officer Aimée Miller said, “Ruhama has a firm belief that the best practice legislative…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly