Revised canon law on crimes, punishments published A series of laws and procedures promulgated by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and, especially, by Pope Francis to protect children, promote the investigation of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and punish offenders are included in a heavily revised section of the Code of Canon Law. The revision of…
Christina Malone As I tried to be creative while working from home my daughter comes running inside and tells me that she has no homework today, but that she has to learn prayers (she knew already) for her First Confession. It is March and my three children (nine, seven and four ) are finally back…
Austrian bishops oppose assisted suicide ruling Austria’s Catholic bishops urged the authorities on June 1 to offer people “assistance to live”, rather than assistance to suicide. The bishops issued a statement in the wake of a ruling by the country’s top court that assisted suicide should no longer be a criminal offense. “Dying is a…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. There are many priests, teachers and parents who feel totally inadequate in the face of today’s society. The answers of yesterday seem to have no relationship with the questions of today. Many people are finding it hard to hold on to any faith in the Church. They…
Dear Editor, The issue of Irish prisoners not being able to attend Mass, highlighted on your front page [IC 03/06/2021], is most serious. Although some of these people may be behind bars for serious criminal offences, this does not mean that their constitutional rights can so easily and wrongly be taken from them – particularly…
Skellig Michael to reopen this month Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael) is set to welcome visitors back this month, with a target date of June 21 for reopening the island off the Kerry coast. Office of Public Works crews are currently working on-site to prepare the popular destination for the reopening date, doing preparatory health and…
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising has submitted his resignation to Pope Francis, saying that bishops must begin to accept responsibility for the institutional failures of the church in handling the clerical sexual abuse crisis. Cardinal Marx (67) released a statement on Friday and, with the Pope’s permission, a copy of the letter…
With just weeks to go, organisers of this year’s ‘Rally for Life’ have revealed details of the weekend plan including a free screening of the movie Voiceless. This year the event will take place from July 1-4, and while the normal large gathering in Dublin will not take place due to Covid-19 restrictions a number…
As has become traditional at the June public holiday, Bishop Fintan Monahan has asked parishes across the country to pray for safety on the roads. As more people travel due to the holiday, the Bishop of Killaloe will also lead a ‘blessing of the roads’ ceremony in Co. Clare on Saturday. In a statement, Dr…
The Archbishop of San Francisco has publicly supported Denver Archbishop Aquila’s response to the German bishops’ “synodal path”, which he said advances “untenable” views of the Church. In his open letter dated May 13, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver had warned about the fundamental text produced by the first forum of the German Catholic Synodal…