Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, today speaking about his disappointment of no papal visit to the North and his excitement for the World Meeting of Families this August.
Archbishop says Pope’s trip a ‘gift’ to Ireland
Papal schedule announced Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said that the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in August “must not be just a once-off event” and insisted that the Church has to see it as an opportunity for renewal. Speaking as the Vatican announced details of the Pope’s visit, Dr Martin said…
Human rights welcome UK decision on North’s abortion laws
Human rights activists in the North have welcomed a decision by the UK Supreme Court to dismiss an attempt to overturn the region’s laws on abortion. The challenge to the law was brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) but judges said it would have required the case to have been brought by…
New ambassador to the Holy See appointed
The Irish diplomat credited with enhancing relations between Ireland and the Vatican is to return to Dublin after completing her post in Rome, Emma Madigan – who was appointed Irish Ambassador to the Holy See in 2014 – is to be replaced by Derek Hannon who is expected to present his credentials to Pope Francis…
Voters ‘intimidated’ in Church- owned schools, TDs claim
Left-wing TDs Clare Daly and Richard Boyd-Barrett have complained that voters were “intimidated” when voting in the May 25 abortion referendum by being confronted with religious imagery in Church-owned schools. Speaking in the Dáil last week, Ms Daly said there had been “strategic location of religious iconography” in order to, she had been told “influence…
Study Guide: Blueprint for the Church
With just weeks until Pope Francis is in Dublin for the World Meeting of Families, attention is focusing on his teachings and what his message will be to the Church in Ireland. Over the next 4 weeks, The Irish Catholic will publish study guides to the Pope’s landmark documents – this week, Blueprint for the…
Religious groups praise Supreme Court ruling in same-sex cake case
Religious freedom groups cheered Monday’s 7-2 Supreme Court decision that a Colorado baker had his rights violated when the state civil rights commission said he was required to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, saying that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed…
The Church wants to seek out and save the lost, not exclude them
The sacraments cannot be treated as mere rituals that can be approached regardless of one’s beliefs or morality, writes Fr John McKeever Many have described the landslide in the abortion referendum result as ‘a wake-up call for ‘the Church’, presumably meaning ‘the hierarchy’. However, the Church in reality is all the baptised, including those…
New proposals could lead to abortion on demand – pro-life group
A prominent pro-life group has criticised proposals made by Labour MP, Stella Creasy, to remove any criminal sanction for those involved with abortion. Commenting on the June 5 Westminster emergency debate on abortion, Dawn McAvoy, co-founder of Both Lives Matter said: “Stella Creasey wants full decriminalisation which would leave abortion largely unregulated. It could allow…
Progress in US audit of abuse allegations despite ‘worrisome signs’
The 15th annual report on the implementation of the US bishops’ ‘Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People’ shows a decrease in allegations of clergy sex abuse from the two previous years. It also indicates the need for continued vigilance since charges were raised by more than 650 adults and 24 minors. The…