Richard Devane SJ: Social Commentator and Advocate, 1876 – 1951 by Martin Walsh (Messenger Publications, €19.95) Thomas J. Morrissey This is a welcome tribute to a man of great zeal and energy, of strong social and religious commitment, who influenced many people, but alienated some by his impatience to bring about change. Born and educated in…
Suspected church arsonist ‘unfit’ for trial A man accused of attempting to enter St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York last month carrying containers of gasoline and a lighter has been deemed unfit to stand trial due to his mental health. Police arrested Marc Lamparello in April after he attempted to enter the cathedral. The 37-year-old…
Dear Editor, Our Faith shouldn’t be reduced down to just some self-help guide on how to improve ourselves and be kinder to others – a mentality which I think many interpret religion to be. As Catholics we are called to not only transform ourselves, but to also change the society we live in by always…
Pat O’Kelly The final programme in the NCH’s 2018/19 International Concert Series on June 14 brings the welcome return of the London Symphony Orchestra. Under Italian maestro Gianandrea Noseda, the concert features music by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Berlioz. Russian Daniil Trifonov is the soloist in Shostakovich’s 1st Piano Concerto with UK trumpeter Philip Cobb…
Letter from Rome Claire Giangravè Pope Francis’s cautionary words on the female diaconate made waves in early May, ruffling a few feathers in the Catholic world, especially among women. However, his remarks were welcomed by some female Catholics. “Francis’ comments make it clear that he holds to the classical understanding of doctrinal development,” said…
Jean Vanier’s lessons can continue to inspire us, writes Fr Fergal Cunnane Over the last few weeks there have been many tributes paid to Jean Vanier, from people of faith and conscience throughout the world. But you know the best tribute ever paid to him was from a beggar he encountered one day in…
The Holy Spirit gives Christians the courage and the strength needed to engage in a loving dialogue with God that is like the dialogue of a child with his or her father, Pope Francis has said. “Do not forget this: The protagonist of all Christian prayer is the Holy Spirit. We can never pray without…
A new study examining the correlation between religion and marital happiness found that women who are part of a highly religious, traditional couple are most likely to report being happy in marriage, as well as sexually satisfied in their relationship. In addition, a woman in a highly religious couple was most likely to report that…
Dallas police have executed search warrants at three Diocese of Dallas sites yesterday (May 15), saying the process was an extension of their ongoing investigation of sexual abuse allegations into six current or former priests. This includes a priest accused of sexually abusing three minors. He is believed to have fled the country to his…
New papal norms on preventing clergy sexual abuse are “a blessing that will empower the Church everywhere to bring predators to justice, no matter what rank they hold in the Church”, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has said. The new juridical instrument “calls for the establishment of…