Ruadhán JonesMary, the mother of God, has been present during the Covid-19 pandemic, and she was by the side of all those who died alone, Pope Francis said
Mary comforts all those who die alone, Pope says at audience
Month: March 2021
‘Don’t cancel Easter’, say independent TDs and Senators at campaign launch
Independent senators and TDs launched a campaign yesterday (March 23) calling on the Taoiseach “not to cancel Easter”, as no evidence has been shown to support a ban on Masses
Gardaí fine Fr PJ Hughes for celebrating public Mass
Michael Kelly
A Co. Cavan priest who has not prevented parishioners from attending Mass in the church has been issued with a €500 fine by gardaí The Irish Catholic can reveal. Fr PJ Hughes, Mullahoran parish in Co. Cavan has been warned by authorities in the past that the fact that the doors are open and a small number…
Pope hails Irish missionary spirit as he elevates Knock to international status
Pope Francis has urged Irish Catholics to remember the great faith that Irish missionaries have brought to every corner of the world. The Pope made the plea tonight (Friday) via a videolink to Knock Shrine where he formally elevated the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in 1879 as an international sanctuary of special Eucharistic…
German bishops offer resignation after abuse report
Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Hesse has offered his resignation to Pope Francis in the wake of a report on the Cologne archdiocese’s handling of abuse cases. “In order to avert damage to the office of the archbishop as well as the Hamburg archdiocese, I am offering Pope Francis my resignation from office and am asking him…
Westminster seeks to force North to implement abortion laws
The Westminster government has been criticised for seeking to give Britain’s secretary of state for the region new powers to compel Stormont to implement abortion laws over the head of locally-elected politicians. Aontú has described the push as an “attack on self-determination”. Speaking of the unprecedented decision, Derry Aontú representative Gemma Brolly said: “For 200…
Senator seeks Oireachtas support in urging Govt to reopen churches
Independent Senator Sharon Keogan has sought the help of members of the Oireachtas as she takes to the front of Leinster House in support of the reopening of churches for Easter. The senator will be joined by other members of the Oireachtas at 12pm on Tuesday, March 23 in front of Leinster House. In a…
German Catholics and Protestants pursue intercommunion despite Vatican objections
Catholics and Protestants in Germany announced on Tuesday that they would press ahead with intercommunion at an event in May despite Vatican objections. In a March 16 press release, organisers of the third Ecumenical Church Congress (ÖKT) in Frankfurt said that they planned to invite Christians to attend celebrations “in many churches” in the city and across…
The Pope and Iraq’s Persecuted Christians
It is hard to think of a country where the plight of persecuted Christians is highlighted so starkly as in Iraq. The decision by Pope Francis to travel to the Middle Eastern country was extremely brave. In the months leading up to the Papal visit there were a string of security alerts in Iraq. In…
Bishops say synod process will allow people to ‘let off steam’
Chai Brady and Ruadhán Jones The Church cannot shy away from controversial questions about the disconnect with young people and the role of women as it prepares for a national synod, bishops have told The Irish Catholic. Following their spring meeting, the hierarchy announced that it will work towards a national synod in the next…