Finding Faith In Ireland

In this episode, John Quinn meets Jasper Rutherford of Christ in Youth, to delve deeper into the research they commissioned, Finding Faith in Ireland. Many issues arose from the research, where young people in Ireland got to speak honestly and sincerely about their attitudes to faith today. Many of the findings offer challenges to the…

Young people are not a problem to be solved

Today’s Catholic youth require “joyful accompaniment” says leading catechist. *Please note the Engage Conference has been postponted until further notice* Renowned Catholic speaker David Wells has said that the Irish Church must not view young people merely as “a problem to be solved”. Wells, a UK catechist and author who regularly talks at conferences around…

Doctor urged to clarify stance on Down Syndrome

Advocates for the right to life of the unborn have challenged a Dublin-based doctor to clarify whether or not she supports abortion where an unborn baby has a non-fatal abnormality such as Down Syndrome. Speaking at a Together for Yes event yesterday, Dr Jennifer Donnelly from the Rotunda maternity hospital referred to women in Ireland…

Pope criticises ‘suitcase in hand’ bishops

Pope Francis has criticised bishops who are too busy for their people and more interested in foreign travel poointments rather than the work of shepherding the diocese. In his homily at the Vatican this morning the Pontiff reflected on what makes a genuine bishop, stressing the qualities of watchfulness, closeness and being involved in the…

Developments of unborn must be taken seriously

The development of unborn children must not be caricatured or ignored in debate about abortion, a leading pro-life group has said. Responding to criticism of a pro-life poster by master of Rotunda Maternity Hospital Dr Fergal Malone who said unborn babies cannot yawn as there is no air in the womb, LoveBoth campaigner Áine Kierans…

Catholic sex education needs revision – Armagh archbishop

Catholic schools need to “review” their teachings on relationships and sexuality education, and evaluate the current support offered to students who are facing questions about their sexual identity, the Primate of All Ireland has said. Speaking in Galway today at a conference entitled “Catholic Schools Supporting Families: Towards A Better Education of Children”, Armagh’s archbishop…

Gay cake row goes to Britain’s highest court

The Belfast-based bakers who were sued for refusing to make a cake supporting same-sex marriage have appealed this week to the UK Supreme Court to overturn their prosecution for discrimination. Speaking ahead of the hearing on Tuesday, Daniel McArthur, general manager of Ashers Baking Company, said “some people want the law to make us support…

Cautious welcome for decline in homeless

While news of a small decrease in national homeless figures must be welcomed, the challenge is to work for more substantive decreases, homelessness campaigners have said. New figures from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government indicate that 9,681 people of people accessed State-funded emergency homeless accommodation in March, down slightly on 9,807 in…

Reading the writing on the wall…

Fr Andrew McMahon   Considerable consternation was caused in recent days when graffiti appeared on the outside of two northern Catholic churches around 30 miles apart. St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh was defaced overnight on Sunday, April 22, while in the Co. Tyrone village of Carrickmore, St Colmcille’s Church was daubed with paint sometime the…