Many strategic and political experts have described the tragic situation in Ukraine as a watershed in international affairs, and a quantum leap into a new world order. Alignments are changing, neutral countries – even Switzerland – are taking sides, and the European Union has moved swiftly to supply arms to defend Ukraine. In recent decades,…
The president of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, rejected the February 22 Constitutional Court’s decision to depenalise abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. “We are facing a decision that concerns the entire Colombian society and five people cannot propose something as atrocious to a nation as allowing a life to be interrupted up to six…
Willpower is a major fuel in the spiritual life, and it will come in handy during Lent, writes Jason Osborne Lent has begun, and our spiritual resolutions are hopefully made. As discussed last week in this column, Lent is the perfect opportunity to refocus on the goal of life: God. Unfortunately for us, however, it’s…
Staff reporter A Donegal-based priest has praised Minister Charlie McConalogue’s “new determination” and greater understanding of the plight of Irish fishermen. Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough, Co. Donegal, told The Irish Catholic that new proposals and moves from the minister show “he has a better understanding of the plight of Irish fishermen and new…
An estimated 5.2 million children in 21 countries, including the United States, lost at least one parent, a custodial grandparent or a primary caregiver to Covid-19 during the first 20 months of the pandemic, social researchers and child well-being advocates said in a new study. Notably, the researchers estimated that the number of children orphaned…
Children aged 12-15 to be offered Covid booster dose Children aged 12 to 15 are to be offered a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine in a bid to reduce infection rates among this age group. The move follows a recommendation by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac), which has been accepted by Minister for Health…
Having a child should not be reduced to a transaction like buying something in a shop, writes David Quinn “I’m a 37-year-old single woman and I desperately want to become a mother”, says the letter-writer to the agony aunt at the Irish Independent. She explains that she has more or less given up on finding…
Everyday Philosophy Do we live in a simulation? No, of course not. Would it matter if we did? Of course it would. The great philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein had a particular view of what philosophy was really about. He saw it as a kind of therapy for confusion. Rather than seeking to answer deep questions about…
Spanish bishops announce clerical abuse investigation In an about-face, the Spanish bishops’ conference announced that it has hired a law firm to conduct a yearlong investigation into clerical sexual abuse in the country. At a news conference in Madrid February 24, Cardinal Juan José Omella of Barcelona, president of the Spanish bishops’ conference, said the…
Religious care homes are to be considered for HIQA regulation as part of a review of the nursing home regulatory models. Following questions from Kerry TDs Brendan Griffin and Michael Healy-Rae regarding HIQA regulation for “certain communities” and “care homes”, Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler said she will ask her officials…
Mary Kenny
David Quinn
Ben Conroy