A special section of the archive of the Shrine of Fatima reveals the intimate relationship between the Faithful and Our Lady, writes António Marujo A sheet of paper, handwritten, with a short message, in Portuguese: “You know who I am. There is no need to describe my person…” Another sheet of paper, completely blank. Some…
The Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on participation in religious services just as it did on workplaces, but a new survey indicates strong emotional resilience from those who consider their faith vital to their existence. That was part of the findings of a survey conducted late last year of 1,600 adults, mostly from Washington, Maryland…
A “perfect storm” of problems awaits families as the pandemic supports and protections are wound down, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has warned. A lack of “joined up thinking” on the removal of the moratorium on energy disconnections and evictions, and the ending of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in the coming months will…
Simone Weil for the Twenty-First Century by Eric O. Springsted (University of Notre Dame Press, US$35.00 pb/£25.00 pb) The Subversive Simone Weil: A life in five ideas by Robert Zaretsky (University of Chicago Press, US$20.00 hb/£16.00 hb) Frank Litton What theologians, philosophers, public intellectuals who hold centre-stage today will still be highly regarded and their work studied 80…
Archbishop Paul Coakley said May 26, that the tragic shootings at a rail yard in San Jose, California, “reminds us once again that something fundamentally broken in our society and culture must be courageously examined and addressed”. The shooting that left 9 people dead and multiple people injured took place at 6:48am at the Valley…
Every day is “remembrance day” in St Agatha’s parish, of the 28 people killed and over 90 injured after four bombs were dropped on Dublin’s North Strand 80 years ago. “The loss of 28 people, it’s just extraordinary,” Fr Brendan Kealy of St Agatha’s told The Irish Catholic. “Every day here is a remembrance day…
A bill proposed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party would criminalise “harassment” of women entering abortion clinics. The bill was introduced May 21 by the PSOE’s coalition in the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Spain’s legislature, and would criminalise “harassing women going to clinics for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy”. Penalties for…
Life in Ireland: A Short History of a Long Time by Conor W. O’Brien (Merrion Press, €16.95/£15.99) Joe Carroll This potted history of plant and animal life in Ireland stretches over a long period – about 550 million years. So there is a lot of evolution to pack into 264 pages. The author, a lifelong enthusiast…
Dennis Sadowski After receiving an unprecedented letter from 67 bishops appealing for a delay in a discussion during the bishops’ upcoming spring general assembly on whether to prepare a teaching document on the reception of Communion, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president explained in a memo the procedure followed in bringing the question to…
Gunmen attacked a Catholic parish in northern Nigeria last Thursday, killing one priest and kidnapping another. Fr Alphonsus Bello was found dead May 21, the morning after his parish, St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in the Diocese of Sokoto, was attacked by armed bandits. He was 33. Fr Bello was kidnapped along with another priest,…