The beatifications of 19 martyrs in Algeria will be a “great joy” to the Church and will help unite Christians and Muslims of the country, said a French-Algerian archbishop. The beatifications represent “hope for the future” rather than a “complaint about the past”, said Archbishop Paul Desfarges of Algiers, the largest city in the North…
We need to make the Church more welcoming to those who acknowledge the beauty of her teachings as well as those who struggle with it, writes Karl Miller At 15, I was active in high school ministry and discerning a place in the priesthood. At 16, I had my first sexual experience with another…
Youth Space Our faith calls us to set the world on fire, writes Blánaid ní Bhraonáin A few weeks ago, a group of young adults from around Ireland joined a pilgrimage to Rome with the theme ‘Our Upward Call’. The trip was organised by the community of Dominican Sisters of St Cecelia. In 2016, four…
Vatican announces historic papal trip to UAE Pope Francis will visit the United Arab Emirates next year, becoming the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, the Vatican has announced. In a statement on December 6, the Vatican said the Pope will “participate in the International Interfaith Meeting on ‘Human Fraternity’” after receiving an invitation by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,…
Walk with dinosaurs The story of the dinosaurs continues to fascinate minds, both young and old, but instead of reading about them in book, why not seem them close-up in Dublin’s 3Arena? Running from December 21-23, Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular, is based on the award-winning BBC TV series of the same name, and…
Becoming an uncle has prompted a top Chicago rapper to take a “sabbatical” to study the Bible. The grammy-award-winning Chance the Rapper has said following the birth last month of his brother’s first child, a boy named Charlie, he feels he should read up on the Bible to become a better Christian and a better…
Dear Editor, Your front-page story on the Religious Sisters of Charity’s failure to seek canonical permission to dispose of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (IC 6/12/2018) really showed the truth of the comments from UCD’s Prof. John McCafferty as related in the previous week’s Webwatch. Prof. McCafferty had been critical of the failure of fellow…
It’s our job to shine the light that first shone in Bethlehem, writes Ciara Ferry During the Advent and Christmas season, many people find themselves asking the question “What do I want?” Oftentimes the answer can be found in the Black Friday sales, but does not actually satisfy any longer than it takes for…
The Catholic Church has been slow to recognise the presence of homosexual men in the priesthood, which is why superiors must exercise care in helping gay candidates prepare for a life of celibacy or leave the seminary, Pope Francis said. “Homosexuality is a very serious matter, which must be discerned adequately from the beginning with…
Organisers of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland frightened people away from attending the papal Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, according to former Tánaiste Joan Burton. Speaking at an Oireachtas committee the Labour TD said organisers “scared most older people in Ireland into thinking that they could not do a two-mile walk”. “Those in charge of…