As parliamentarians debated last Thursday a bill to legalise euthanasia, French bishops spoke out against the proposal. A bill to institute a right to “a free and chosen end of life” was debated in the National Assembly, the lower house of France’s parliament, April 8. “The solution when a person faces suffering is not to…
A hurling great tells Seán Ryan how a long stint in hospital has led to a deepening of prayer “Illness weakened my body, but it strengthened my Faith.” That’s how former Cork hurling star, Kevin Hennessy, sums up the transformation in his life from sport star to cripple. Between 1979 and 1992, he played in…
Bishop Dónal McKeown said that the Irish Synod must be focused on “re-energising the mercy mission” of the Church or risk becoming a “curious talking shop”. The bishop of Derry’s comments come as the initial submission phase for the National Synodal Assembly begins. Writing in The Net, Bishop McKeown said that synodality does not mean…
From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland and America edited by Brian Murphy and Donnacha Ó Beacháin (Merrion Press, €19.95/£17.95) Joe Carroll One would think that there is little new to be explored in the Kennedy-Ireland relationship 60 years after John F. Kennedy’s election as the first Catholic President of the United States and its…
As the United States took in almost 19,000 migrant children, labelled “unaccompanied minors”, in March, faith-based organisations such as Catholic Charities throughout the country have been doing their part to help. In Texas, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio set up over 2,000 cots for their guests at the Freeman Coliseum to “welcome…
The goal of the philosophical quest is to arrive at the most fundamental truth by which all else can be known, writes Dr Gaven Kerr Philosophy originated with a group of thinkers known as the Pre-Socratics. They were known as such because they worked or flourished prior to Socrates, so prior to 469/70BC. The man…
‘Profound evil’ of abuse must be eradicated, Pope Francis tells symposium As religious leaders, scholars, experts and abuse survivors come together online to participate in an international symposium on faith, healing and prevention, Pope Francis sent a message as part of opening remarks for the event. Pope Francis hopes that by bringing together people from…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enter a time machine and go back to Galilee or Jerusalem and spend a day in the company of Jesus? To see his face, to hear his voice, to touch his garment, maybe to see a miracle…
Warning over ‘eye-watering’ levels of youth unemployment The National Youth Council of Ireland has described the level of youth unemployment in Ireland as “eye-watering” and warned of a major social and economic crisis if young people continue to be unable to get onto the jobs ladder. Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, Deputy director of the…
Dear Editor, The Irish Government decided it is more important to open the Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park before the churches. During Holy Week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that the Government plans to re-open the Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park on April 26. He said the Government will consider re-opening churches in May.…