‘Church shouldn’t stay silent,’ says Russian Catholic official The secretary-general of the Russian bishops’ conference defended his Church’s right to speak out during police repression, as the country’s Catholic archbishop demanded “substantial, concrete answers” to societal problems that are the subject of current massive protests. “Young people have gone out in freezing temperatures and tried…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. You may have missed out on the ashes this year but the message of Lent is unchanged: repent and believe in the Gospel. To repent literally means to think again, to take an honest look at your life. To believe in the Gospel means to be guided…
As Christians pray, fast and give alms during Lent, they also should consider giving a smile and offering a kind word to people feeling alone or frightened because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said. “Love rejoices in seeing others grow. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need,”…
Catholicism is growing extremely rapidly in Africa. Despite this fact the Church faces new challenges on the continent. It has become clear that Africa will be the largest battleground in Christian persecution over the next decade. In many ways Africa is already the largest battleground. It is estimated that more Christians are killed for their…
The Youth 2000 Valentine’s Ball is an entrenched tradition for many young Catholics around Ireland, but due to the pandemic, many will be tuning in to the Youth 2000 version of Blind Date this year. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Youth 2000’s Emma Maloney explained that the pandemic made their usual fundraising ball impossible this…
A proposed ban on “conversion therapy” for sexual orientation or gender identity in Australia’s Victoria state is far too broad and could target normal prayer and conversations between children and parents, Catholic bishops and Muslim leaders warned this week. “Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t just ban outdated and insidious practices of coercion and harm, which we…
Our faith is not virtual and is not something to be moved online, writes Bishop Tom Deenihan The current restrictions on public worship are both understandable and necessary and also enjoy public support. The escalation of Covid-19 during the past few months has been a source of fear and huge concern. However, I must also admit that…
In the midst of the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, thousands of Eritrean refugees who fled oppression and authoritarianism have been deported back to their home country, said an Eritrean Catholic priest. Fr Mussie Zerai, a priest of the Archdiocese of Asmara, Eritrea, who works with migrants, said the refugees were in Schimelba and Hitsats…
President Joe Biden’s decision to rescind a regulation governing the Title X family planning programme that was enforced by the Trump administration “will force abortion” to be part of the programme and “may be unlawful,” said the chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee. “We have long supported efforts to ensure that the provision and…
Recently appointed Archbishop Dermot Farrell has condemned a spate of knife crime in the capital as “inhuman” in a homily delivered over the weekend. Dangerous road Speaking at Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Ballymun, Archbishop Farrell said a person who carries a knife is “travelling down a dangerous road full of…