Philosophy – its nature and significance

Philosophy primarily seeks to uncover what it is to be, a truth presupposed by our other theoretical disciplines but never established by them, writes Dr Gaven Kerr Go to the philosophy section in any high street bookshop and you will usually find it sandwiched between the new age section and the self-help section. Philosophy today…

Four dead in Madrid parish explosion

At least four people have now died after an explosion destroyed a parish building in the Spanish capital, Madrid, with a gas leak cited as a possible cause. The victims included a recently ordained Catholic priest who died in hospital early Thursday morning. Fr Rubén Pérez Ayala was ordained to the priesthood last June. His…

Vatican Roundup

Homeless people receive Covid-19 vaccine in the Vatican Pope Francis is working to ensure that poor people who are assisted by Holy See facilities for the homeless be offered the possibility of being vaccinated against Covid-19. A statement released on Wednesday by the Holy See Press Office said that 25 homeless persons were inoculated with…

In Brief

Nigerian priest abducted for ransom found dead The body of Fr John Gbakaan, a Catholic parish priest in Nigeria, was found dead with machete wounds on January 16, a day after armed men kidnapped him and demanded ransom. Fr Gbakaan, the parish priest of the Saint Anthony Church in Gulu in Minna diocese, was kidnapped…

Family News & Events

Biden returns US to Paris climate accord Joe Biden has reinstated the US to the Paris climate agreement mere hours after being sworn in as president. The US president is pursuing this amid a number of executive orders aimed at tackling climate change, with the issue being one of the Biden Administration’s top priorities. President…

We ‘apologise unreservedly’ for the Church’s role

The silence had long needed to be shattered – Archbishop-elect Farrell Archbishop-elect of Dublin, Dermot Farrell echoed the other bishops of Ireland by welcoming the report, describing it as making for “extremely disturbing reading”. “They reveal deep wounds, and bring to light the profound injustices perpetrated against the vulnerable in our society over a long…