It delights me that Babette’s Feast is one of Pope Francis’ favourite films. It is a lovely film and quite subtle, deserving much more than the small, but devoted following it had previously. Set in a small community in Denmark, with its particular virtues and expectations, it is about how these can both elevate and…
Peru’s bishops called for national unity and urged citizens to stand up for democracy and the rule of law as the president closed Congress and was subsequently impeached and arrested. In a statement December 7, the bishops’ conference said it “emphatically and absolutely rejects the rupture in the constitutional order. The defence of democracy is…
Pope Francis’ call for priests to engage closely with their flock is alive and well in army chaplaincy, writes Chai Brady More than two months into their UN mission in Syria, the spirits of Irish troops are high and those with faith have been bolstered by it, according to the army chaplain on the mission.…
Speaking at a press conference just before England’s exit from the world cup at France’s hands, 23-year-old footballer Bukayo Saka spoke of the importance of keeping your eyes fixed on God. “I read my Bible every night, I’ve been continuing to do that out here. For me, it is really important to have the presence of…
A doctor of the Church, St John of the Cross is also one of its great mystics and poets. Born Juan de Yepes de Alvarez in Spain, he was the son of poor parents from Castile, near Avila, but was mostly raised by his mother after his father died early in his life. In 1563, he…
People of faith were subject to the harshest restrictions in Europe, we shouldn’t forget this, writes David Quinn It is now three years since the world got its first hint that something bad was brewing in a place in China almost none of us had heard of before, namely the commercial city of Wuhan on…
Christmas this year marks the first time in its history that the European Parliament has allowed a Nativity scene to be set up at its headquarters in Brussels. Until now, officials of the European institution had considered it “potentially offensive.” The efforts of Isabel Benjumea, a member in the EU’s House of Representatives from Spain,…
A top court in the southern Indian state of Kerala has ordered police protection for the apostolic administrator of an archdiocese in the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, which is embroiled in a bitter liturgical dispute. The High Court of Kerala granted the request December 5 in a lawsuit by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, administrator of the…
The decision by the UK Supreme Court to uphold the banning and criminalising of pro-life activities around abortion facilities has been condemned as a “travesty of justice” and as an attempt to silence the voice of the unborn by pro-life voices in Northern Ireland. The court was asked to review the validity of Northern Ireland’s…
Appetising Christmas recipes for baked goods and delicious dinners, by Kiley Jones The festive season is always filled with such wonderful foods, whether party foods, traditional desserts, or the ever-important Christmas roast. I must confess, the food at Christmas time is my favourite, as it just seems so much more special and exciting. Here, I…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
David Quinn