Pope call s German cardinal to Rome to discuss eucharistic sharing Pope Francis has asked the president of the German bishops’ conference to come to Rome to discuss pastoral guidelines for possibly allowing some non-Catholics married to Catholics to receive the Eucharist, the conference spokesman has said. Reports that “the document was rejected in the Vatican by the Holy Father or by the dicasteries…
Mothers and fathers who consider abortion in difficult circumstances should be treated with “tremendous sensitivity and support”, an Irish bishop has said. In an April 22 Pastoral Message, Fern’s bishop Dennis Brennan said that individuals can find themselves in difficulties during pregnancy, pointing out that mothers may be abandoned, afraid, isolated or facing financial and…
Pat O’Kelly Described as ‘unpredictable’ and ‘anarchic’ as well as having ‘expressive intensity’, it may not be surprising to find Gerald Barry’s compositions have something of a controversial streak in them. Born in Clarecastle in Co. Clare in 1952, Barry’s introduction to music came from hearing Handel’s opera Xerxes on the radio. He was…
Pope Francis has spoken out about the temptations encountered in the Christian life, encouraging faithful to not be discouraged by the struggle, but to be reassured and strengthened by the prayers of the Church. “It is difficult to fight against evil, to escape from its deceptions, to regain strength after a tiring struggle, but we…
Episode 11 of The Irish Catholic Podcast is John Quinn chatting with Natalie Doherty, a Parish Catechist in Kilnamanagh & Castleview Parish, Dublin 24 (you can find her on Twitter @ParishCatechist). In the first of a two-part conversation, John & Natalie discuss the challenges and opportunities in being a catechist in an Irish parish today,…
Pro-life campaigners have welcomed today’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll on abortion and says the findings are “a devastating blow to the Government’s referendum proposal”. In the poll, 47% of respondents say they intend to vote Yes and 28% say they will vote No, while 20% of respondents say they are undecided as to how…
The man hailed as the ‘King’ of country and Irish music was “gifted by God” to entertain people the funeral Mass of ‘Big Tom’ McBride has heard. Fr Leo Creelman told the thousands of mourners that the legendary singer was above all “a loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother, neighbour and friend”. He said that the…
A leading Irish charity has called on the government to take urgent measures to ensure that no one over the age of 65 is homeless. Focus Ireland has launched the online petition after the latest figures from the Department of Housing showed that there were 119 people over 65 years old living in emergency accommodation…
Each of us will soon have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to remove an amendment to the Irish Constitution that defends the right to life of unborn children. There is no point in beating around the bush: a vote to remove this protection from unborn children will be a vote for abortion.…
A barrister has lodged High Court proceedings against Health Minister Simon Harris TD and Senator Catherine Noone over tweets he has described as defamatory. Benedict Ó Floinn BL claims that following a panel discussion on RTÉ Radio’s Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra the politicians tweeted comments that were defamatory, disparaging and damaging to his professional…