Researchers have found that the “desire to die” that is sometimes expressed among elderly people living in community is often “transient” and linked to experiences of loneliness and depression. Longitudinal study The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda) found that four per cent of 8,100 people aged over 50 expressed a desire to die when…
In the wake of the economic fallout due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy said it expects a multimillion-dollar deficit in its budget for 2021. In a statement released February 19, the Vatican said Pope Francis signed off on the Holy See’s 2021 budget, which was proposed by the secretariat and…
Parishes already struggling with debt are under “crippling pressure” to maintain church structures, said the parish priest in Gurranabraher, Cork. Fr Tom Walsh SMA appealed to “committed” and “not-so-committed” parishioners to “come to the aid of churches in need”. He warned that some parishes may not be able to survive the pandemic. “We have seen…
Peru’s Catholic bishops want a thorough investigation of a Covid-19 vaccine trafficking scandal that includes the country’s papal nuncio. In a statement released late February 17, the bishops’ conference said the illicit use of vaccines “exposes the new face of the monster of corruption” in this Andean country of 33 million people. The scandal, known…
Many St Patrick’s Day celebrations won’t be on the cards this year due to Covid-19 restrictions but The Saint Patrick Centre in Co. Down have prepared an online performance which includes music, dance and iconic imagery honouring the saint. ‘The Saint Patrick Show – A Musical and Visual Tale from Ancient to Modern Times’ will…
More than 5,000 people including 3,000 Catholics have fled their homes in Indonesia’s Papua region following clashes between security forces and a separatist group, according to a Church official. The violence flared in Bilogai, Intan Jaya district, between security forces and members of the Papua Independence Organisation (OPM) on February 10 and was still ongoing,…
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land launched a virtual Way of the Cross project for pilgrims during Lent because the Holy Land is not accessible for a second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Franciscans realised that pilgrimages would not be possible again this year, the Custody wanted to…
Belief in Jesus Christ and God as our Creator remains absolutely compatible with science, writes Dr Brian Wilson As a young Catholic increasingly curious and hungry for more knowledge of the Faith, I find that rather than holding my faith back, my scientific training has helped to deepen it. After taking time to understand and…
Hundreds of Catholic nuns, priests and laypeople have joined protests in Buddhist-majority Myanmar following the February 1 coup. Ucanews.com reported that hundreds of Catholics, including dozens of nuns, marched on the streets of Yangon February 14 and recited prayers and the rosary. Youths held placards reading “Free Aung San Suu Kyi” and “We support CDM”,…
RTÉ is asking people to take part in a survey which aims to guide them in future content decisions and what audiences think about the broadcaster. Currently they are preparing a new ‘Public Service Statement’, which will be a commitment to their audience. In a statement on their website RTÉ said: “All opinions are welcome,…