Award-winning scientist joins Vatican academy Pope Francis has named a pioneering US scientist specialising in stem-cell research to the Pontifical Academy for Sciences. Elaine Fuchs, professor and head of the laboratory of mammalian cell biology and development at The Rockefeller University in New York, was appointed to the papal think tank, according to a Vatican press release. The scientist…
Pat O’Kelly In September 2016 the National Concert Hall, RTÉ and Bord na Móna devised a celebration of music spanning the previous century. Entitled Composing the Island, it was a bold endeavour but, maybe at the end of its three-week run, one had become somewhat saturated and I remember suffering, what I call, musical…
Pope Francis said today that nothing can take away a person’s baptism or the salvation and identity they gain as a child of God, which is why the Church only allows for the sacrament to be administered once. “Baptism is not repeated because it imprints an indelible spiritual sign: This sign is never erased by…
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…
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…
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 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…
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 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…
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…