Tánaiste Micheál Martin has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of a Nicaraguan bishop who was sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment after refusing to leave the country for exile insisting he wanted to be with his people. Mr Martin said he was “gravely concerned” about Bishop Rolando Álvarez (56) and the wider crackdown in…
A leading voice in Catholic education has welcomed the dropping of references to gender being “experienced along a spectrum” from the new SPHE curriculum following consultation with the public. CEO of the Catholic Education Partnership Alan Hynes told The Irish Catholic that they’re “glad to see that the final draft reflects some of our concerns…
While “everybody wants peace” in Ukraine and is striving for it, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski has said that at the one year anniversary of the war in Ukraine it’s “not something we can talk about”. This comes after 12 senators and TDs penned a letter in The Irish Times condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
Pope Francis appointed a new papal nuncio to Ireland over the weekend, following the previous nuncio’s posting to Czechia last year. Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor was the papal nuncio to Columbia but will now take the diplomatic reins in Ireland. He succeeds Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo who appointed 12 bishops in his five-year term. Archbishop Montemayor…
A fellow of the Royal Historical Society has said that the State was responsible for most of the institutions covered by the Mother and Baby Institutions Redress Bill and that the State “will ultimately bear the fiscal liability”. Writing in The Irish Times on Monday, Michael Dwyer said that although some politicians and advocacy groups…
Bible-based baby names are still proving very popular in Ireland with the top three boys’ names for babies registered in 2022 being biblical. The three most popular boys’ names were Jack, Noah and then James. Jack has held the top spot since 2007, with the exception of 2016, when James was the most popular name.…
There are few things more pathetic and embarrassing to witness than the spectacle of unrequited love. It occurred to me at the weekend when I saw senior figures in the Labour Party talk about their enthusiasm for a potential merger with the Social Democrats. Holly Cairns, the Social Democrat TD, was asked about the prospects…
A bill currently passing through the Oireachtas which could make it easier for Irish prisoners abroad to serve their sentences at home has been cautiously welcomed by the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO). Irish bishops The ICPO, which was established by the Irish bishops, noted the long wait times for prisoners applying to serve…
The trailer for a new film about the famous Italian exorcist Fr Gabriele Amorth has been released, part of which was filmed in Ireland. Starring Russell Crowe as Fr Amorth, The Pope’s Exorcist will be released in the US next month. The Irish Catholic understands an Irish priest was consulted during the making of the…
Isolating Syria from the international community through sanctions “benefits no one” and complicates relief efforts to the millions left homeless after earthquakes devasted the country, said a top Vatican official who visited Turkey and Syria. “We are still in the middle of this tragedy because it is not certain that the tremors are over,” said…
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly