Poland’s bishops said they no longer have enough clergy to minister to Polish people living abroad and urged emigrant Catholics to integrate more with the Church in other countries. “Even with a very large group of Polish priests, it isn’t possible to reach in a timely way every place where Poles are found,” said the…
The Adoption Machine by Paul Jude Redmond – foreword by Clare Daly TD – (Merrion Press, €16.99). Finola Kennedy The sub-title of The Adoption Machine is ‘The Dark History of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Homes and the inside story of how Tuam 800 became a global scandal’. The book also contains the author’s personal history.…
Lincoln and the Irish: The Untold Story of How the Irish Helped Abraham Lincoln Save the Union by Niall O’Dowd (Skyhorse Publishing, €20.67/$24.99) Peter Hegarty Niall O’Dowd has an original take on the American Civil War: without the 150,000 Irish soldiers who served in the his armies, Lincoln’s Union would have lost. The Irish-American publisher emphasises…
Fr Vincent Sherlock The Notebook I got a message recently, one of those funny messages we so freely share with one another. It was a picture of two people looking at their smartphones and the caption ran: “I’m having a few people over to stare at their phones later if you want to come…
We all have a “grave responsibility” before God and the people around us to defend and protect innocent life, a prominent religious congregation has said. In a letter dated April 3, the Congregation of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that we experience tension and violence in areas all around the world, and that this…
Dear Editor, Following your reports in recent weeks in relation to the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment we wish to make clear the position of the Society of St Vincent de Paul as an organisation. As on previous occasions, where there have been referenda or elections, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will…
Magic in the forest Kids love nothing more than a day out where they can dress up and have fun with their friends and family. For the tenth year running, fairies and elves of all ages are being summoned to Rathwood in Tullow for a magical day out to remember. During this whimsical May 19-20…
Vatican watchdog reports ongoing progress in oversight The Vatican’s financial watchdog agency has reported continued progress in oversight, reporting and cooperation in its efforts to prevent suspected money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In its annual report for 2017, the Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF) confirmed a “robust reporting system and an effective application of the regulatory framework of the Holy…
His Excellency Jude Thaddaeus Okolo, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, visited Ashbourne-Donaghmore Parish last weekend. He was formally welcomed to the parish by Ciarán Lawless (Parish Pastoral Council) at the beginning of Mass. The Sprinkling Rite took place at the Baptism font, blessed by Bishop Smith earlier that morning before the commencement of Mass. Candy Querida-Maia and Anastasija Sitova, both received…
Speaking today at Dublin’s Buswells Hotel, Maria Steen of the Iona Institute showed that compared to abortion laws elsewhere in Europe, the Government proposals on a prospective abortion law are anything but restrictive.