Abortion pill legal challenge defeated again A pro-life group in Scotland has, for a second time, lost a legal challenge against the government’s decision last year to allow women to self-administer abortion pills at home. “We are greatly saddened by this decision. We have been convinced all along that the policy decision by the Chief…
‘Ends justify the means…’ – really?
Dear Editor, Your coverage of Facebook’s short-lived attempt to censor the Iona Institute’s ‘Still one of us’ (IC16/5/2019 and 23/5/2019) has been eye-opening and alarming, not least as it should remind us of how Facebook and Google shut down pro-life advertising ahead of last year’s referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment. During that episode, readers…
US bishop questions ‘traumatic’ Dallas police raid
Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas questioned an affidavit and a dramatic raid by local police who descended on Church property in the Texas diocese wearing “ski masks and SWAT gear” in mid-May saying they were looking for documents related to abuse investigations. The Diocese of Dallas has fully cooperated with police and has been transparent…
Argentinian doctor convicted of refusing to perform abortion
Dr Leandro Rodríguez Lastra, an OB-GYN in Argentina, was found guilty on Monday of having prevented an abortion, after he decided to save the life of an unborn baby whose mother had taken an abortion pill. After three days of arguments in the Rio Negro Court in Argentina, Judge Álvaro Meynet found Rodríguez guilty of…
Knock Marriage Introductions has served its time says director
Colm Fitzpatrick and Susan Gately Knock Marriage Introductions was a service of its time, and “has served its time”, according to director Fr Stephen Farragher. The priest from the Tuam archdiocese who took over as director two years ago announced the closure of the service which brought about 960 weddings in its 51-year history. Speaking to The…
I, too, was told to abort my baby. Will Simon Harris now listen after abortion tragedy?
Vicky Wall This week, abortion campaigners are busy celebrating the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, but many people – including many ‘Yes’ voters – are instead appalled at the tragic case that has come to light from the National Maternity Hospital. I’m devastated for the parents at the centre of this horrendous abortion misdiagnosis…
Be spiritual fathers to your priests, Pope tells bishops
Pope Francis has said that each bishop has a duty to have a strong, close relationship with his priests with a firm warning that episcopal aloofness and favouritism weakens the mission of the Church. “The relationship between us bishops and our priests is, unquestionably, one of the most vital issues in the life of the…
Don’t rush couples into abortion after first diagnosis
Pro-life campaigners have said families should not be “rushed into” having an abortion after an initial diagnosis of a severe abnormality. This comes after it was revealed last week that a couple aborted a baby that was misdiagnosed in the National Maternity Hospital. The couple said they were told by hospital staff that there was…
Burkina Faso victims ‘martyrs for the faith’
Catholic leaders in Burkina Faso appealed for unity and solidarity after two attacks on Catholics in two days left 10 laypeople and a priest dead. “We have been working together for years – Muslims, Protestants, Catholics and followers of traditional religions, always walking hand in hand,” said Archbishop Seraphin Rouamba of Koupela. “In view of…
‘Family love’ announced as the theme for WMOF 2021 in Rome
The office for Vatican Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life announced the theme Pope Francis has chosen for the next World Meeting of Families, which will be in Rome June 23-27, 2021– it is: ‘Family love: A vocation and a path to holiness’. The dicastery asked that in preparation for the meeting, families and…










