In what has been described as a “Biblical ordeal”, a US lobsterman escaped after being swallowed by a humpback whale. Michael Packard, 56, of Provincetown, Massachusetts, was diving off Cape Cod when he was swallowed by the whale for between 30 and 40 seconds, only to be spat out with nothing more than a suspected…
To Kidnap a Pope: Napoleon and Pius VII by Ambrogio A. Caini (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, £ 20.00 / €24.00) Frank Litton Of all the themes in European history, the relationship between Church and state, religion and politics, has had the greatest impact in making Europe what it is. With the French Revolution,…
Co. Clare priest Fr Ger Nash (62) has said it is “exciting to be asked to take a leadership role” after Pope Francis appointed him as the new bishop of the Diocese of Ferns last week. He will be taking over from Bishop Denis Brennan. Bishop-elect Nash said he looked forward to walking with the…
Clergy, women religious and laypeople pledged to strengthen existing networks and build new partnerships to fight human trafficking in West Africa during a five-day conference. Recognising that the coronavirus pandemic has not slowed the work of traffickers who force young people into prostitution, pornography, erotic entertainment and forced labour, more than two dozen participants agreed…
This year has proved a hard one for an already struggling fishing sector, writes Ruadhán Jones You might have heard the names – Castletownbere, Killybegs, Kilmore – or read them on packets of fish without thinking much of it. They produce nice seafood to eat, stocking the shelves of supermarkets around the country. You probably…
Irish media make it appear simple and humane to give intended parents automatic legal rights, but surrogacy is complex, writes David Quinn A campaign in favour of the rights of Irish people who use international surrogacy to have children has been substantially stepped up in the last couple of weeks. As usual, the ethical pitfalls…
God is Not a White Man: And other revelations by Chine McDonald (London: Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99 / €19.70 ) Kevin Hargaden Have you ever noticed the way tights are marketed? The hosiery section of Marks and Spencer is an unlikely place to experience a revelation, but God can use any means to illuminate us. Dispatched…
The warm weather will make sleeping more difficult for many of us, but for some, it’s a problem all year round, writes Jason Osborne Recent conversations with some family and friends have made me very grateful for the ease with which I sleep. I’ve heard many reports of people struggling to get comfortable and drift…
Fr Pádraig Ó Cochláin “Is ait an mac an saol” is an old Irish saying, meaning that life is strange. I was released from hospital recently and am now on the road to recovery from Covid-19, a mysterious virus which seems to have originated in China, in late 2019. Many people by now have been…
Fundamental theological principles provide the framework for any doctrinal questions over the discovery of extra-terrestrial beings, a theologian claimed in a lecture on June 5. While the Church does not have any specific teachings on extra-terrestrial life, theologians can speculate on the existence of these beings and their nature due to the “underlying principles” which…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn