Notebook What hope is there for the young people of Ireland? Just over 40 years ago, when Pope St John Paul II addressed young Irish people in Galway, he was speaking to people supported and nourished by a Catholic culture: “You come from Catholic families; you go regularly and meet Christ in Holy Communion on…
On the one-year anniversary of the Covid-19 outbreak in Ireland, it wasn’t surprising that the issue of the lockdown and religious practice featured prominently in the media last week, especially considering the Catholic Bishops’ statement on religious worship which put this back more prominently on the agenda. David Quinn discussed the matter on Today with…
Among artistic ventures falling victim to Covid-19 last year were Feis Ceoil and Music for Galway’s Cellissimo festival – a celebration of the cello in one form or another. Happy to relate both events have been reconstituted with Feis Ceoil, supported by the RDS and celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2021, already under way and…
Kenyan bishops urge uptake of Covid-19 vaccines Days after a Catholic doctors’ association urged Kenyans to shun Covid-19 vaccines, the country’s bishops have told the citizens to accept the inoculations. The bishops said it was licit and ethically acceptable to receive all the vaccines the government recognised as clinically genuine, safe and effective. They also…
Dear Editor, With the repercussions of the Covid-19 virus and the growing number of destructive antisocial disorders occurring regularly throughout the world it is probably timely for people who feel there is something not right about our society to reconsider and re-evaluate the benefits of religion and participation in church services as a more fulfilling…
China and Russia to build lunar space station China and Russia have announced plans to build a space station on or around the moon, or both. The Russian space agency Roscommos says it has signed an agreement with China’s National Space Administration to develop research facilities on or around (or both) our nearest celestial neighbour.…
The northern bishops have announced what they describe as “a cautious return to public worship” from March 26, in time for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. However, they warned that people who feel vulnerable should consider carefully if now is the time for them to return or if they should continue to join…
The Archbishop of Dublin has called on the Government to assure people of faith that the right to worship will be prioritised in easing Covid-19 restrictions. Archbishop Dermot Farrell also said that the number of people permitted to attend Mass when restrictions are eased should not be “randomly determined”. He described current restrictions on funerals…
The Primate of All Ireland said that St Patrick’s day under lockdown is a chance to “rescue the real St Patrick from the legends and distractions surrounding him”
An amendment to outlaw abortions on those with non-fatal disabilities has passed the second stage in the Northern Irish assembly by 48 votes to 12. Pro-life groups called the vote for the Severe Fetal Abortion (Amendment) Bill “a wake-up call to the radical nature” of the North’s abortion law, saying that it gives hope that…
Brendan O’Regan
Michael Kelly
Ruadhán Jones