Hosting a day of prayer for Lebanon with Catholic and Orthodox leaders July 1, Pope Francis said that the country should no longer be used to serve “unscrupulous interests”. “Stop using Lebanon and the Middle East for outside interests and profits,” the Pope said. “The Lebanese people must be given the opportunity to be the…
A Polish Catholic archbishop sanctioned by the Vatican has defended his election as a village mayor. Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódz told Radio Zet on June 29 that his role as mayor of Piaski, in northeastern Poland, did not conflict with canon law. Canon 285 of the Code of Canon Law says that “clerics are forbidden…
Christina Malone Last year my children and I started reading the children’s Bible (again). We made our way from Adam and Eve to Moses, Noah, Ruth, Daniel and many others. Moses was the one that sparked endless discussions and questions for days after. My girls were astounded that he built a tabernacle big enough that…
Carol Zimmermann In response to a late June announcement, the United States will be conducting an investigation of former federally funded boarding schools to search for graves of Native American children, a spokesperson for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said June 28 the bishops will “look for ways to be of assistance”. “It is…
Time to Call Home by Hugh O’Donnell (Veritas, €14.99/£12.90) Fr Hugh O’Donnell SDB lives in Dublin’s inner-city, where he helps minister to the local parish. But in his writing and poetry he explores what he sees as “ecological spirituality”. Doubtless the cityscape that surrounds his daily life sharpens the contrast with what should be the true ecological…
Vatican secretary of state urges Catholic Church in Germany to unite Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, urged German Catholics to put aside visions and individual needs, noting, “the community must take precedence”. Addressing several German bishops during a church service June 29, Cardinal Parolin referred to Pope Francis’ 2019 letter on the Synodal…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. When Jesus sent out the apostles to extend his mission, he said more about their lifestyle than what they might say (Mark 7: 7-13). As St Francis put it, preach at all times, sometimes using words. We are so bombarded today by advertising pressure, slogans and biased…
Passenger rights not protected during pandemic – report Airlines and EU member states did not fully protect passenger rights throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors. Travellers often lost out on money due to cancelled flights or because they were not informed about their right to be reimbursed.…
Dear Editor, Given the current debate about the site for the new National Maternity Hospital, it is important to ask the question that, while our country needs more hospital beds, do we really need more abortion facilities? The number of abortions increased dramatically to 6,666 in 2019. In 98% of those cases, no threat to…
Parents urge Chile president to veto bill Pro-family organisations in Chile are urging President Sebastián Piñera to veto completely the recently passed “System of Guarantees of Children’s Rights” bill. “Today the children of Chile are more defenceless than ever, thanks to the irresponsibility of parliamentarians who, knowing the content of the bill, gave it their…