Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor. The announcement was made by current Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor Bishop Donal McKeown during Mass this morning at St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast. Bishop McGuckian will succeed Bishop Noel…

Speaking this week of the many conflicts in the world Pope Francis has called for all parties to “immediately stop the bombs and missiles and end hostile attitudes. Everywhere.” The Pope called for a “global ceasefire,” because “we are on the brink of the abyss.” Since the war between Israel and Hamas began there have…

Exclusive It is time for elected politicians who know the North’s “pressing problems” to govern, particularly after being led by London, the Primate of All Ireland has insisted. The restoring of power-sharing institutions in the North offers “an opportunity for a fresh start and a new beginning”, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh told The Irish…

Those who leave the Church have “no right to obtain erasure” of their Baptism records, the Data Protection Commission has ruled in a case of major significance across Europe. At a time when churches are facing legal challenges under GDPR to erase the Baptism records of people who ‘defect’ – technical language for those who…

A challenge to the proposed Irish ‘hate speech’ law has come from a host of influential voices from across the world in a viral video that has been viewed millions of times. The video, published by faith-based legal advocacy firm ADF International, features contributions from a number of influential commentators including CEO of the satirical…

Ruadhán Jones and Brandon Scott The Danish National Council on Ethics has warned the Oireachtas Committee examining assisted suicide against legalising euthanasia. The council roundly rejected such legislation in Denmark, voting last year by a majority of 16 to 1 not to recommend its introduction. Speaking to the committee on Tuesday, January 30, council representatives told…

Chaplains to the Ukrainian Catholic community throughout western Europe have met in Poland to address the biggest concerns facing the Ukrainian population in their care. Foremost among these are the ongoing physical, emotional and spiritual effects on those who’ve been displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Fr Vasyl Kornitsky, chaplain to the…

Changes made to the Irish Medical Council’s ethics guide for doctors is not “taking a stance or paving the way” for the introduction of legal euthanasia in Ireland, the council have insisted. In the 9th edition of the IMC’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics, the sentence “You must not take part in the deliberate…

Trócaire has raised concerns following the decision by several donor countries to remove funding from a UN agency assisting Palestinians suffering in Gaza, after it was reported several terrorists and Islamist militants were employed by the agency. An Israeli intel report sent to the US stated that 10% of all UNWRA employees in Gaza have…