The Social Democrats’ decision to deselect a Jewish candidate for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has been described as “an unprecedented act of antisemitism” by the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRC). Orli Degani, a Jewish woman selected by the Social Democrats in July 2023 as the candidate for the local electoral area was deselected last month. Maurice…
Brazilian Capuchin friars in Ireland are organising a collection at Mass which will be donated to the diocese most affected by the floods in southern Brazil, saying “Christ’s love is not only words, but action”. The destruction has affected more than 800,000 people in 104 cities since April 29, and many parts of the state…
Unless there’s an “overnight surge in vocations” more religious orders will relinquish parishes to dioceses, according to the PP of Gardiner Street Parish in Dublin which will soon become part of the Pro Cathedral parish. Speaking to The Irish Catholic Fr Niall Leahy SJ said the Jesuits’ decision regarding Gardiner Street Parish is part of…
Despite the challenges facing Christians in many countries, we need to keep hope alive writes Michael Kelly Some of you will be aware that last week it was announced that I will soon take up a new appointment as Director of Public Affairs for the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland. It…
Anthony Hopkins who played Pope Benedict XVI in the Oscars nominee The Two Popes (2019), will play famous Baroque composer George Frideric Handel in a new biopic. The story will follow Handel during the summer of 1741 when he wrote the choral work Messiah. The oratorio was premiered in Dublin on April 13, 1742, and includes…
Motherhood – the relationship between a woman and her child – is one of the most basic realities of human existence. It transcends cultures, time, and geography. Artists in the western tradition have returned time and again to that most familiar and iconic image: that of the Madonna and Child. So accustomed are we to…
To celebrate five years since the passing of Fr Tony Coote, a walk of remembrance is being organised for the ‘Camino de Santiago’ in Northern Spain. Dates and details are still to be announced. Fr Coote died on August 28, 2019 due to motor neurone disease. To support research and awareness, the priest took part…
Veritas Communications is in discussions with a number of potential buyers and part-buyers since it announced its wind-down by the end of the year. The announcement by the company which is owned by the Catholic bishops was made in February and it is believed that since then the company has been inundated with expressions of…
After centuries of religious sectarianism, Scottish Catholics have taken an unlikely fancy to the deeply Presbyterian Kate Forbes. Ian Dunn explains the shift. Scottish politics is a shambles. A decade on from losing a historic referendum on independence, the Scottish Nationalist Party remains in charge of the devolved government in Edinburgh. A decade of scandals,…
Speaking in response to the verdict made by Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal last week, overruling a previous judgment by the High Court which characterised religious education in the North as not being sufficiently “objective” or “critical”, Aontú Deputy Leader, teacher and advocate for Faith-based education Gemma Brolly said she welcomed the news but there…
Renata Steffens
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly
Maria Steen
Ian Dunn