US bishops issue abuse compliance audit The US bishops’ annual report on compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People shows that 2,930 victim survivors came forward with 3,103 allegations during the audit year of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The number of allegations is 1,149 less than that…
We must resist the temptation to make Catholic organisations our own form of safe spaces, writes Ruadhán Jones Lay Catholic societies and youth groups play an important role in the modern Church. My experience of University College Cork’s informal Catholic society was vital to my faith, strengthening it by uniting me with like-minded Catholics. We…
Despite the popular appeal of Pope Francis, the vast majority of Irish Catholics ignored the synodal consultation process, writes Fr Andrew McMahon Appreciation is due to this newspaper for its recent Synodal Times, outlining the contents of the various diocesan synodal syntheses. From figures contained within the summaries, the participation/response rate per diocese appears to…
The creator of popular prayer app Universalis tells Ruadhán Jones about the power of the creed We repeat the creed every week at Mass, but do we understand the full implications of what we’re saying? Martin Kochanski, creator of popular prayer app Universalis, believes that we don’t. Outrageous claims In his new book The Creed…
Fr Niall Coll The Synodal Pathway: When Rhetoric Meets Reality, edited by Eamon Conway, Eugene Duffy and Mary McDaid (Columba Books, €16.99/£14.99) St John Henry Newman famously observed that “there has seldom been a Council without great confusion after it”. The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) was no exception. Hence the often fractious discourse between traditionalists and…
Climb with Charlie, by Charlie Bird (Merrion Press, €17.99/£16.99) In 2021, veteran RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird made it known that he has motor neurone disease. He was charged up to make a positive response. He decided to organise a charity climb of Ireland’s famous Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick. In its fulfilment, his simple plan grew…
Medical matters The air we breathe and the environment around us have impacts on our health that in the past were unknown. In fact, air pollution as been described as the “invisible killer” and has been cited by the WHO as the new “tobacco” and a “public health emergency”. Up to 43% of lung diseases…
Abortion figures for 2021 show the number of abortions in Ireland is at almost 20,000 in three years, writes Ruadhán Jones Figures released by the Department of Health last week revealed that around 6,700 abortions took place in Ireland in 2021, bringing the total number to almost 20,000 since abortion was introduced three years ago.…
In yet another wide-ranging interview, Pope Francis said that he doesn’t plan to step down anytime soon, though he prays for the strength to do so when the time is right. If the day comes when he does resign, the pontiff said he would prefer to be considered the “bishop emeritus of Rome rather than…
Cardinal Parolin’s message of peace was welcomed in embattled South Sudan as they await rescheduling of Pope’s visit, writes Chai Brady Despite Pope Francis cancelling his trip to South Sudan earlier this month there was great gratitude that the Vatican’s Secretary of State went in his stead, particularly as the nation battles a severe food…
Ruadhán Jones
Peter Costello
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Chai Brady