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…
‘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 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…
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.…
Canonical proceedings against French parish over mask-less Masses The archbishop of Paris announced canonical proceedings last Wednesday against a parish priest for reportedly refusing to follow coronavirus health measures at the Easter Vigil. A statement from the Archdiocese of Paris on April 7 said that the pastor of Sainte-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile church in Paris’ ninth arrondissement did…
Fr Gerard Quirke said celebrating Easter Mass at a penal times Mass rock on Achill Island has a “particular resonance” given the legal ban on Masses. Fr Quirke of the Achill parish celebrated 7am Mass at the site which was used during the era of penal laws when Catholics endured restrictions on their civil liberties.…
The memory of the Holocaust has been used by “cynical actors” to campaign and spread conspiracies during the pandemic, according to Israel’s ambassador to Ireland. Speaking at a webinar on Holocaust remembrance, Ambassador Ophir Kariv said it is easy to spot Holocaust denial but far more difficult to recognise Holocaust distortion, which has increased during the…