The Notebook Fr Bernard Healy Every year on November 1, after All Saints’ Day Mass, the community of the Pontifical Irish College heads to the Campo Verano Cemetery, just outside the walls of Rome, in order to pray midday prayer at the college burial vault. It’s a good way to begin the month…
Dear Editor, On the evidence of last week’s proceedings at the Select Oireachtas Committee on Health, Minister Simon Harris is determined to force healthcare professionals who object to abortion on clinical and/or conscientious grounds to refer women seeking abortions to colleagues with no such objections. Has he considered how this can to be operationalised? How…
Pope recognises martyrdom of Christian Brother Pope Francis has recognised the martyrdom of De La Salle Christian Brother James Miller, who was born in Wisconsin and was shot to death in Guatemala in 1982. The recognition of the martyrdom of Bro. James, or Bro. Santiago as he also was known, clears the way for his beatification; the date and location…
‘Gooch’ encourages young generation to read history Speaking at the launch of a new novel for young people, Leo’s War, GAA star Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper said he wishes he had taken more time to explore history when he was young. This novel, written by author Patricia Murphy, is based on the true story of one of Killarney’s heroes, Msgr Hugh…
Winter festival frolics With Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for the whole family to start celebrating, so why not begin with the Wexford Winterland Festival? Parents and children alike can take part in the action-packed programme of events which includes The Winterland Parade and The Christmas Express. Opening on November 24 and…
Inés San Martín Amidst a growing global concern over the Church’s handling of abuse cases and cover-up, Pope Francis has appointed the Vatican’s former top prosecutor on cases of clerical sexual abuse, Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, back in his former office, though the prelate will continue heading the Church in Malta. The decision to…
The government of Pakistan’s deadline for Trócaire to cease operations is just weeks away, with an Irish Member of European Parliament saying it may be that “faith-based organisations are being targeted”. Pakistan’s government sent a letter to Church-charity Trócaire along with 16 other charitable agencies last month asking them to leave the country. The letter…
The head coach of a Scottish football team is subjected to sectarian abuse every day because he is an Irish Catholic who played for Celtic, according to his agent. After Neil Lennon, head coach of Hibernian, was hit with a coin at a recent Edinburgh Derby match between renowned rivals Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian…
Belfast’s High Court should send a clear message that killing unborn children is a crime in the North, and that health professionals who break the law must be prosecuted, pro-life campaigners have said. Speaking against the background of a court case involving a woman challenging a decision to prosecute her for procuring illegal abortion pills…
Seven Coptic Christians were killed and 12 more injured in Egypt when a bus traveling to a desert monastery south of Cairo was ambushed by Islamic militants. The bus was traveling to St Samuel the Confessor monastery on November 2, when a number of attackers approached the vehicle from nearby dirt roads and opened fire.…