Amid the Israel-Hamas war, more than half a million children across the world prayed the rosary for peace. On October 18, well over 500,000 kids participated in an annual global rosary campaign sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need. This year, ACN dedicated the annual rosary to “healing and protection of the suffering in…
It’s always worth taking notice when there’s a new religious programme, and the latest nearly flew under my highly sensitive radar! Witness (RTÉ Radio 1, Friday) is a new religious affairs programme presented by Siobhán Garrigan, and is a successor to the long running Leap of Faith, though I’m not sure of the logic behind…
The general consensus here at the Synod of Bishops in Rome is that it’s good to talk. Some people are even learning that it can also be good to listen. The beauty of the papacy as we now understand it in the Church is the ability to transform ecclesiastical culture and even ecclesiastical speak, and…
I went into Cat Person (15) thinking of Paul Schrader’s 1982 movie Cat People – for no other reason than the title. It has little in common with Schrader’s nightmarish curio besides that but you keep expecting it to turn into a horror film. Susanna Fogel directs with a clever use of anti-climaxes, red herrings,…
Dear Editor, I write to you today with a heart full of hope and a sense of urgency regarding the critical mission of promoting vocations to the priesthood in Ireland, particularly during this year when our bishops are fervently campaigning to nurture vocations to the diocesan priesthood. The call to serve as a priest is…
Second Oireachtas essay competition launched An essay competition aimed at getting young people reflecting on and discussing politics was launched by the Ceann Comhairle on Tuesday, October 17. Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD launched the all-island Oireachtas competition in Leinster House, on the theme ‘Parliamentary Politics Matters for Peace’. Students North and South are invited to…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady It is “totally unacceptable” and “wrong” that a new tax meant to tackle land hoarding is being applied to religious orders vowed to poverty, politicians have said, while religious leaders warn it could “seriously impact” their way of life. The tax could force orders to fork out thousands of euro,…
In a desperate bid for peace, the head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land has offered himself in exchange for Israeli children held in Gaza by the Hamas terrorist movement. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis just last month, made the offer in a bid…
Ireland’s Jewish community have engaged Irish politicians and An Garda due to safety concerns following a “ramp up in rhetoric” in the country regarding Israel’s response to a terrorist attack on October 7. Militant group Hamas which controls Gaza – currently under Israeli siege – killed more than 1,400 people in the unprecedented attack. The…
Biblical scholars have criticised as “lazy” and “clichéd” a remark in the Dáil by An Tánaiste, in which he appeared to equate the Old Testament with violence and division. Speaking about Israel’s response to Hamas’ terrorist attack, An Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that “We don’t need an Old Testament approach to this, rather a New…
Brendan O’Regan
Michael Kelly
Aubrey Malone
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones