Christians are enjoined to love one another, and to love their enemy as well. But that doesn’t mean that everyone has to like everyone else. It’s a simple fact that not everyone can like everyone else. The accord that is struck between two people can depend on that intangible element known as ‘personal chemistry’. As…
The European Parliament has called on the Vatican “to give full support to Cardinal Zen” and told the Holy See it should “strengthen its diplomatic efforts and its leverage on the Chinese authorities”. In a resolution passed on July 7, the parliament condemned the arrest of the 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong by Chinese authorities and demanded that…
Our faith tells us that we have much to be grateful for but we rarely live as though that’s the case, writes Jason Osborne The pandemic was a real wake-up call for me when it comes to gratitude. I spent the better part of lockdown thinking and complaining bitterly about the sorry state of affairs, which…
The Church in Ireland has given great welcome to refugees, the Ukrainian apostolic visitor to Ireland tells Ruadhán Jones Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, recently appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic visitor to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in Ireland, has visited the country twice. The first time was in the 1990s – the second time was…
England’s former Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said he made the decision to quit Boris Johnson’s Conservative government after hearing a sermon on integrity. Mr Javid told the BBC’s Sunday Morning show that he heard the sermon at a prayer breakfast in parliament, which was delivered by Reverend Les Isaac. “It might sound a bit…
Journalist accused of inciting destruction of abbey in Spain The Vox political party in Spain has filed a complaint against a journalist who encouraged blowing up the basilica and abbey located on the grounds of the Valley of the Fallen memorial complex northwest of Madrid. The complex is the site of the largest cross in…
Mindful Living To talk about what matters most in life we often have to turn to metaphor because words are inadequate to the task. James Finley has an evocative metaphor that captures an essential truth about the human condition. He suggests that we spend a great deal of time walking on the outer circumference of…
The diocesan appointments for priests in Down and Connor have been announced this week. The appointments will take effect from August 5. Fr Timothy Bartlett to be PP St Mary’s, Belfast. Fr Conor McGrath PP St Colmcille’s, Belfast and, in addition, Director of Vocations. Fr Eugene O’Neill to be PP St Patrick’s, Belfast. Fr Michael…
Some years ago, veteran Italian journalist Massimo Franco wrote a book about US/Vatican relations called Imperi Paralleli (“Parallel Empires”), arguing that the intersection between Washington and Rome has driven a great deal of history over the last two centuries. At the moment these parallel empires are intersecting again, each gripped by a maddeningly complicated legal drama. Trial…
Liam Fitzpatrick There is an underbelly of human trafficking that is not being tackled in Ireland, which has led to severe exploitation of adults and children, writes Liam Fitzpatrick Growing up impoverished and abused in East Africa, Amelia hoped overseas work would help her escape her oppressive home. When a local woman offered her a…
Mary Kenny
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
John L. Allen Jr.