Iraqis fear their country, already weary from years of war, may be dragged into a conflict between the United States and Iran, following the US-targeted killing in Baghdad of Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani. “We prayed during the days of Christmas for peace on earth, and the timing of this revenge from America creates in…
As some of the worst wildfires in Australian history rage across four states, thousands of people in affected areas in New South Wales and Victoria continue to be evacuated to safety. Soaring temperatures, often higher than 100°F (37.8°C), and a protracted drought have contributed to an unprecedented national emergency which, by Christmas, had already seen…
Representatives from Knock Shrine have been invited to a celebration in the Vatican at the end of this month which will feature the Our Lady of Knock processional statue. The Mass, which will take place on January 26, will include the statue and the Knock Schola Choir. The representatives from the Shrine have been invited…
Burmese Cardinal Muang Bo has signed an open letter condemning police brutality in Hong Kong over the Christmas holidays. “We have been horrified to see reports of police firing teargas, pepper-spray and rubber bullets at close-range at shoppers, peaceful protesters and innocent by-standers on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and again on Saturday, December…
Christianity shouldn’t be afraid to talk about science, theologian Alister McGrath tells Colm Fitzpatrick The story goes that when the French physicist Pierre-Simon, Marquis de Laplace presented Napoleon with his definitive work on the properties of our solar system, he was asked about the absence of God in his model. Laplace replied: “I had…
An English cardinal has condemned “all expressions of hatred” after anti-Semitic graffiti was daubed across shops, cafes and a synagogue in London. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster denounced the December 29 attacks, which coincided with the Jewish religious festival of Hanukkah. “The recent anti-Semitic graffiti in north London brings shame to us all,” said the…
Has Science Killed God? Faraday Papers on Science and Religion edited by Denis Alexander (SPCK, £19.99) Christopher Moriarty This is a truly amazing book. Written by a team of eminent scientists, who are also believers in the reality of the spiritual, it provides a great deal of comfort to people of faith who…
The late broadcaster Marian Finucane has been described as a woman of great empathy imbibed with a sense of fairness. Mrs Finucane died suddenly at her home in Co. Kildare, and was laid to rest following requiem Mass on Tuesday. Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll told mourners that Mrs Finucane was “such an icon of Irish broadcasting…
Students For Life Ireland has hit out at the Health Minister, Simon Harris, over what it labelled his “obsession” with the abortion issue. Speaking in response the Health Minister’s recent remarks on exclusion zones, a spokesperson for the group said that “any time the Health Minister gets into political difficulty, whenever there is talk of…
Francis apologises for losing patience and slapping woman’s hand Pope Francis apologised last Wednesday for losing his patience with a woman who grabbed his arm in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve. “Many times we lose our patience; me too. I apologise for yesterday’s bad example,” Pope Francis said in a departure from his…