Amid an unprecedented wave of violence in Ecuador, the South American country’s bishops’ conference issued a statement asking the people to unite against the disturbance caused by criminal gangs, whose operations were defined as acts of “treason against the nation”. The incidents began after José Adolfo Macías Villamar, the leader of the criminal gang Los…
Dear Editor, Esther Ranzen has been pressing for the UK to embrace so-called ‘assisted dying’. The former BBC journalist might wish to consider neonatal medicine advances and English abortion practice. Consider two unborn children at just under 24 weeks into pregnancy. One is for ‘resuscitation’ in a London hospital but ‘termination’ awaits the other. Remember,…
You know the way you sometimes get the impression that someone is trying to give you a hint, but you’re not quite sure. I felt that way when I saw two programmes flagged – about the last priests and nuns in Ireland – was this a nudge? Wishful thinking? An attempt at self-fulfilling prophecy? The…
I always find these first weeks of January a somewhat reflective time. A new year has begun, and I find myself reevaluating where I’m at as a person and as a priest and what might I try to do differently in the coming months. I have also spent a few days on retreat with my…
Kerry from Maps and Charts, by Noel Kissane (Killiney Press, €30.00 / £24.00) Maps are nearly as old as mankind itself. They are treasured by historians, as they can provide important information in a variety of ways. The author of this book was a librarian at the National Library, a well informed and helpful scholar…
Kerry diocese keeps ‘hope alive’ with mission The diocese of Kerry has launched its online mission, ‘Hope Alive!’, from January 21 to 24. Well-known humanitarian Adi Roche headlines the mission and will reflect on what it means to welcome the stranger on Sunday, January 21, at 8pm. Guest speakers include Fr Michael Conway, Dr Keith…
LEICESTER, United Kingdom – Mary McAleese, the former president of the Republic of Ireland, has backed calls for the Catholic Church to end priestly celibacy. McAleese, currently chancellor of Trinity University, spoke to The Irish News after Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, who also serves as an adjunct secretary of the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine…
Berlin (KNA) The German Child Protection Association has criticised Pope Francis for his comments on the beating of children. “There is no justification for beating children, not even a papal one,” said Daniel Grein, Federal Director of the Child Protection Association, in Berlin on Tuesday. Anyone who physically abuses a child is doing the wrong…
Geneva (KNA) The Swiss daily newspaper “Le Temps” accuses the traditionalist Catholic Fraternity of St Pius X of serious shortcomings in dealing with abuse. After months of research in several countries, the paper says it has compiled numerous cases of physical, sexual and psychological abuse within the ranks of the Fraternity. An article published at…
Berlin (KNA) The five richest men in the world have more than doubled their wealth since 2020. According to an Oxfam study published on Monday, these five men had a fortune of 405 billion US dollars in 2020. This figure has now risen to USD 869 billion. All billionaires have increased their wealth by USD…
Brendan O’Regan