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…
The Irish Catholic tv and radio critic has welcomed a decision by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to uphold a complaint against Newstalk over a lack of objectivity and impartiality in dealing with the pro-life point of view. Brendan O’Regan had complained that an item on the station on December 10 had treated a…
The European Parliament voted Thursday in favour of a report describing abortion as “essential healthcare” and seeking to redefine conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care”. Members of the European Parliament, the EU’s law-making body, voted on June 24 by 378 votes in favour, 255 against and 42 abstentions, to adopt the text, known…
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 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…