Writing to his peers, Catholics who have reached a venerable age like he has, Pope Francis told older Catholics that God is close to them and still has plans for their lives. “I was called to become the Bishop of Rome when I had reached, so to speak, retirement age, and thought I would not…
Supreme Court upholds health care law’s individual mandate
In a 7-2 decision June 17, the US Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to the Affordable Care Act, saying the states that sued over the law did not have the legal right to do so. In the case, California v. Texas, the plaintiffs – 18 Republican states and two individuals – argued that the law’s…
Bioethics centre condemns mandatory Covid vaccination for healthcare workers
The UK’s Anscombe Bioethics Centre has hit out against the UK government’s proposal to make the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for care home staff and other healthcare workers. The Anscombe Bioethics Centre is the national Catholic bioethics centre for the United Kingdom and Ireland, and is based in Oxford. In a statement, Director David Jones said…
Fans mourn Colombian priest who helped reduce violence at stadiums
A Colombian priest who dedicated years of his life to reducing violence at soccer stadiums died in Bogotá, where he was mourned at a church by hundreds of parishioners, including some wearing jerseys of the city’s two biggest soccer clubs. Msgr Alirio López, 66, was one of the first public personalities in Colombia to address…
The courage to build again on the ruins
Up From the Ashes: A Syrian Doctor’s Story of Sacrifice and Hope by ‘Dr A’ with Samara Levy (Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99/€19.99) Anthony Redmond This is a truly incredible and inspiring story of a Syrian Christian doctor who decided to stay in his country and help as many people as he could after the horrific war…
Vatican Roundup
Pope: Don’t forget workers left on to the margins by pandemic Pope Francis addressed an International Labour Organisation (ILO) summit last Thursday, calling for dignified working conditions and support for workers on the margins of the labour market still affected by pandemic losses. “In 2020, we saw an unprecedented loss of employment all over the…
Faith in the Family
Christina Malone The week after Easter I met with some of my work colleagues to record a video for children who are preparing for the sacraments. As we wished each other a happy Easter, I mentioned this Easter had been different. Normally I feel like I am part of the story. From welcoming Jesus in…
Family News
Center Parcs planning €85 million Longford resort expansion Center Parcs is set to spend €85 million on an expansion of its Co. Longford resort, which will see the creation of 250 jobs with its completion. It also said 300 temporary positions are to be created during the construction phase of the expansion. Center Parcs revealed…
In brief
Bishop urges Nigerian government to unban Twitter Bishop Lucius Ugorji of Umuahia has joined other Nigerians asking the federal government to unban Twitter. In a homily June 13 at Mater Dei Cathedral in Umuahia, Bishop Ugorji said the nation’s economy would suffer a further slide as a result of the ban. He also said the…
Touching the Lord in faith
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Today we read about two miracles which show the divine power of Jesus. He healed the woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for 12 years. And he restored life to a girl of 12 who had died. On some Mass leaflets the healing of the woman…










