Dear Editor, Martin O’Brien’s investigation into the Pope’s decision not to visit Northern Ireland this year (‘No Pope here?’ IC 14/6/2018) invites serious questions about links between our local Church and the Vatican. The Pope’s decision not to visit the North has, understandably, caused dismay and continues to cause confusion across both Northern communities, and…
A welcome haunting Stories of ghosts and the supernatural will be among those told at the Dublin Ghost Story Festival from June 29 to July 1. The event is to be put on by publishing house Swan River Press and will feature several writers that explore Dublin’s connection to literary ghost stories. The event will also…
Listen to those in need says Pope on World Day of Poor How is it that God in heaven can hear the cries of the poor, but so many people watching or standing nearby either cannot or just do not care, Pope Francis asked on the World Day of the Poor. The recently established commemoration is meant to give Christians a chance to follow Christ’s example…
Matthew Carlson A limited-edition box set commemorating the life and work of football club Celtic FC’s founder Marist Brother Walfrid has been produced. The box set, which was created by Scottish print finisher ACA, is limited to 1,888 which symbolises the year that Celtic FC played its first match. It includes an A3-sized depiction of…
Pat O’Kelly Although this year commemorates the centenary of the death in Paris on March 25, 1918 of Claude-Achille Debussy, celebratory events here have, so far, been relatively low-key. The RTÉ NSO did bring us the composer’s Poème dansé – Jeux in February as part of its season and the recent Dublin International Piano…
People of all age groups are susceptible to loneliness, and initiatives must be implemented to alleviate this problem in Ireland, a social justice organisation has said. The Loneliness Task Force, which was established in collaboration with the CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan, to coordinate a response to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, said…
An Australian acting archbishop has said the Church will not adhere to new laws that compel priests to break the Seal of Confession. The laws are expected to come into effect in South Australia in October and will make it legally mandatory for clergy to report child abuse if they are told about it in…
Matthew Carlson A prominent pro-life group has applauded the actions of Offaly TD Carol Nolan after she retired from Sinn Féin because the group voted to deny its members the right to vote with their conscience on abortion without receiving discipline. At Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis in Belfast last weekend, the party voted to…
Elise Harris In a new interview with Reuters, Pope Francis backed the U.S. bishops’ opposition to the separation of migrant children from their parents at the Mexican border, calling the move “immoral” and “contrary to Catholic values”. “I am on the side of the bishops’ conference”, the Pope said, referring to statements made by…
Pope Francis has appointed leading educationalist and Cork priest Fr Tom Deenihan as the new Bishop of Meath. The announcement was made in a Vatican communique this morning (June 18). He will succeed Bishop Michael Smith who recently turned 78 and was Ireland’s longest-serving bishop having been appointed to the episcopal bench by St John…