Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has asked priests to shorten their homilies as public Masses begin at the end of the month. In a note sent to priests this week, he said that “it is obvious that safe distancing makes a feeling of communion and community more difficult. “Distancing could also lead to a deeper reflection on…
A key player in the Church’s education policy in Ireland has been remembered as a reconciler. Msgr Jim Cassin died after a short illness and his funeral took place last week in the Church of the Assumption, Thomastown, Co. Kildare Bishop of Ossory Dermot Farrell said that Msgr Cassin – who served for many years…
The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has lamented a decision by the country’s Supreme Court this week on the legal definition of sex in civil rights law. Archbishop José Gomez issued a statement in response to a case on whether sexual identity and gender identity is covered by laws prohibiting employment…
A wife and daughter have accused their Christian husband and father of committing blasphemy in the first case of its kind in Pakistan. Anwar Masih from Lahore has been charged under blasphemy law 295-C for uttering blasphemous words about the Prophet Muhmmad (PBUH). Last week, the Civil Line police station registered a case against Mr…
Chai Brady and Aron Hegarty The decision to include the pursuit of exclusion zones outside abortion centres in the Programme for Government has been described as “vindictive” by the Life Institute. The programme set out by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party states the new Government will: “Establish exclusion zones around medical facilities.”…
India’s leading lay organisation has urged the prime minister’s office to consult religious leaders before radical decisions are taken on worship during the Covid-19 lockdown period. At a webinar hosted by the All-India Catholic Union (AICU) last week, Catholic leaders discussed a guideline that the government issued for opening religious places. The guideline allowed opening…
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane has pitched for the Church to take a key role in Australia’s Covid-19 recovery efforts, adding that the task cannot be left solely to politicians. “We’re in a situation now where the world has changed, perhaps forever,” said the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference last week. “We now…
An 83-year-old Chinese bishop has been installed as the third bishop to be recognised by the Communist regime since the Vatican-China 2018 agreement on the appointment of bishops. Bishop Peter Lin Jiashan was officially appointed as head of the Fuzhou Diocese in Fujian province last week. Since 1997, Bishop Lin had refused to register with…
By working collaboratively on a shared goal, religious and laypeople have better been able to help respond to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees, writes Rory O’Neill The idea of love of God and love of neighbour is a basic element in hearing the call to join a religious or missionary congregation. This idea…
The Irish Spirit – Issue No. 6 Emma Tobin When trying to understand addiction, it is important to remember what every human is addicted to. We are all addicted to breathing, for example. It’s easy to test, just start holding your breath and soon enough your body will want some air. A little longer,…