Pope Francis names Franciscan sister to second-highest position in Vatican City State Pope Francis has appointed Sr Raffaella Petrini to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State. Sr Petrini is the first woman and non-clergy member to be secretary general of the Vatican’s governorate. The appointment makes her one of the…
Spanish bishop dismisses Joe Biden’s claim that Pope said he can receive Communion Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of San Sebastián, Spain, strongly criticised US President Joe Biden’s claim that Pope Francis personally encouraged him to continue receiving Communion despite his open support for abortion. “These incredible statements reveal the moral character of those who are…
Dear Editor, I read with interest Jason Osborne’s article ‘The changing face of funerals’ [The Irish Catholic – October 28, 2021] arising from his interview with Joseph Behan (Hibernian Funerals), in particular Mr Behan’s comments on cremation. For hundreds of years cremations were frowned upon and even illegal going back as far as Charlemagne in 789. It was…
Study shows endangered species can reproduce without mating California condors, a critically endangered species, can reproduce without mating, according to a study by conservation scientists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. During a routine analysis of biological samples from the California condors in the zoo’s breeding programme, the scientists found that two condor chicks…
Ruadhán Jones and Brandon Scott Rising energy costs are having a dramatic impact on parishes’ ability to heat churches, with some forced to resort to rationing and leaving it off for large parts of the week. Recent months have seen a huge increase in energy prices which are predicted to continue to rise. Coupled with…
The Association of Catholic Priests has claimed that some bishops have banned gay priests from working in parishes. However, the group did not name any diocese in a series of allegations contained in a statement released to the media ahead of the annual meeting this week. Another claim from the group is that some priests…
Ahead of a mass rally held last Saturday, which saw in excess of 10,000 people take to Navan’s streets to protest against the potential closure of the hospital’s emergency department, Fr Declan Hurley, Parish Administrator of Navan Parish, Co. Meath, spoke to The Irish Catholic and explained why he believes its emergency department should be…
There was a jubilant atmosphere as Navan parish in Co. Meath celebrated the 25th year of ordination of Fr Louis Illah, who arrived from the parish of St Peter and Paul in Egume, Nigeria in 2013. Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the celebratory Mass, which saw Fr Louis presented with gifts from Navan Parish…
The Pope received US President Joe Biden and according to the US President, the Pontiff referred to him as “a good Catholic”. Biden was in Rome for the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit. He met with Pope Francis for 75 minutes on Friday, during which they did not reference abortion, a topic that…
Every Bush Aflame: Science, God, and the Natural World by John Feehan (Veritas, €16.99/£14.61) Dr Christopher Moriarty The first creation story in the Bible – the ‘six day’ account – is remarkable in being, in its essentials, a scientific document. Its writer observed nature and made deductions from his observations. Above all, he postulated the need…