We must be vigilant, discerning, and watchful over what kind of ‘new normal’ is appearing on the horizon of our post-Covid world, writes Dr Philip Gonzales One of the fundamental tasks of philosophy is to seek to understand something of the riddle — or better — mystery of the human condition. In this never-ending task,…
Vatican Roundup
‘I too kneel on Myanmar streets,’ says Pope As security forces in Myanmar have increased their crackdown on civilians, with disappearances, detentions and the killing of peaceful protesters, Pope Francis appealed for an end to violence and the start of dialogue. “Once again, and with much sorrow, I feel compelled to mention the tragic situation…
UCC abortion study is ‘stark wake-up call’
Dear Editor, Yes; it is right that we should examine how children in mother and baby homes were treated and how their adoptions were arranged in the past century. But each generation has to face up to its own responsibilities! A recent study conducted by researchers at University College Cork has been published in the…
Family News
Ancient scroll found in Israel ‘cave of horror’ The BBC has reported that fragments of a biblical scroll and other relics have been found in what officials call an “historic discovery” in desert caves in Israel. The dozens of pieces of parchment were written in Greek, with just the name of God appearing in Hebrew.…
Jesus: the wounded healer
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. It is the time of year when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, the most important days in human history. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. You may have a crucifix at home, perhaps a small one on rosary beads. Maybe you can download the…
In Brief
Teen killed in stabbing at Canadian Catholic school A 17-year-old girl is dead following a stabbing at a Catholic high school near Edmonton Monday March 15 morning. According to local officials, police were summoned to Christ the King Catholic School in Leduc, Alberta shortly before 10 am. They said the girl had been stabbed in…
Pope hails Irish missionary spirit as he elevates Knock to international status
Pope Francis has urged Irish Catholics to remember the great faith that Irish missionaries have brought to every corner of the world. The Pope made the plea tonight (Friday) via a videolink to Knock Shrine where he formally elevated the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in 1879 as an international sanctuary of special Eucharistic…
German bishops offer resignation after abuse report
Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Hesse has offered his resignation to Pope Francis in the wake of a report on the Cologne archdiocese’s handling of abuse cases. “In order to avert damage to the office of the archbishop as well as the Hamburg archdiocese, I am offering Pope Francis my resignation from office and am asking him…
Westminster seeks to force North to implement abortion laws
The Westminster government has been criticised for seeking to give Britain’s secretary of state for the region new powers to compel Stormont to implement abortion laws over the head of locally-elected politicians. Aontú has described the push as an “attack on self-determination”. Speaking of the unprecedented decision, Derry Aontú representative Gemma Brolly said: “For 200…
The Pope and Iraq’s Persecuted Christians
It is hard to think of a country where the plight of persecuted Christians is highlighted so starkly as in Iraq. The decision by Pope Francis to travel to the Middle Eastern country was extremely brave. In the months leading up to the Papal visit there were a string of security alerts in Iraq. In…










