Reaffirming the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the early morning, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new archpriest of the basilica, said exceptions would be made for “groups with particular and legitimate needs”. In addition, requests by priests to celebrate alone, without a congregation, “may…
Priests must be ‘more supportive’ says Bishop Nulty, as he announces appointments
Priests must become more comfortable “pulpit sharing” and “less consumed by our individual parishes”, said Bishop Denis Nulty June 28. Announcing the appointment of priests for the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Nulty emphasised that “every one of our 78 priests in parish ministry or available for parish ministry is involved in the diocesan…
Families must be informed and supported, not pushed towards having an abortion
We need action to stop parents being pushed to abort children like Baby Christopher, writes Vicky Wall In 2018, I was one of a group of parents who knew, from personal experience, that safeguards were needed to prevent abortion being pushed after a diagnosis of a life-limiting condition for baby. When I was pregnant with…
Christian legal group denounces ‘targeted smear campaign’
A Christian legal group said last Wednesday that its inclusion in a report claiming that “religious extremists” are seeking “to roll back human rights in sexuality and reproduction” is part of a “targeted smear campaign”. ADF International was responding to a report issued by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) ahead…
Touching in a time of no touch
We are a people of the incarnation and reaching out to tangible things is important to us, writes Canon Benedict Fee Three statues; two big, one small; one is in Rome, two in Ireland; one north of the border, one south of the border. The first is found on the right-hand side of St Peter’s…
Investigation after Catholic churches burn on British Columbia tribal lands
Two Catholic churches in the same region of British Columbia burned down in suspicious circumstances early Monday morning. “On behalf of the diocese of Nelson, I am very saddened by the recent fires that destroyed two Catholic churches – Sacred Heart Mission at Penticton Indian Band and St Gregory Mission at Osoyoos Indian Band –…
Archdiocese of Berlin suspends work of commission on sexual abuse
The archdiocese of Berlin announced that it was temporarily suspending the work of its expert commission established to follow up on a legal report about sexual abuse in the archdiocese since 1946. The archdiocese said June 22 that the commission is recommending that findings from the legal firm Redeker Sellner Dahs be reworked or that…
Vatican Roundup
Vatican issues new regulations on public contracts The Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy issued last Tuesday a set of regulations related to new norms for awarding public contracts unveiled by Pope Francis last year. The regulations are contained in a decree signed by Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, SJ, the Pontifical Delegate and prefect of…
Encouraging the cure for environmental destruction this summer
Living Laudato Si’ “To restore nature, we must first restore ourselves”, words from Pope Francis speaking at an event to mark the beginning of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This global initiative is an effort to protect and restore the vast ecosystems of our planet. Biodiversity loss is at critical levels due to human…
Dealing with begrudgers
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Local begrudgery is a problem that is not confined to Ireland. Today’s three readings tell how Ezekiel, St Paul and Jesus had to face it. So, if you feel that you are being under appreciated, that you are being undervalued, then you are in very good company.…










