New cancer-fighting test is announced In Ireland, an average of 40,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, so it’s good news that a recently developed blood test is making leaps and bounds in changing the way doctors screen for cancer. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in the US have developed a test that screens for…
In 1997, Pope St John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. The Feast is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed symbolising Christ who is the light of…
Love’s Doorway to Life: An Alternative Biography of Patrick Kavanagh boxed set of three discs, scripted and narrated by Úna Agnew and Art Agnew (Éist Audio Productions; www.eist.ie, €25.00) These days, with perhaps fewer young people reading books, this three-disc set may well be the ideal modern way of presenting a great poet. The creators are…
Dear Editor, Pope Francis’ convalidation of the marriage of two flight attendants while he was in Chile has drawn predictable ire online, with paid and amateur commentators alike shouting down the Pope for somehow ‘cheapening’ the Sacrament of Marriage. It’s early days yet, but it seems likely that a similar reaction will meet Bishop Brendan…
Pictured at the launch of the 4 Corners Festival in Belfast are Fr Martin Magill and Rev Steven Stockman. The 4 Corners Festival seeks to inspire people from across the city to transform it for the peace and prostperity of all. It consists of innovative events designed to entice people of of their own ‘corners’…
Charles Collins A Chinese cardinal is warning that an alleged Vatican request to underground bishops to resign in favour of bishops belonging to the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association would “be giving the blessing on the new strengthened schismatic Church”. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 86-year-old retired Bishop of Hong Kong, wrote an open letter on…
Former Minister Lucinda Creighton has warned that pro-choice campaigners are trying to frame the debate around abortion to exclude talk about the unborn child who loses his or her life as a result of a termination. She also dismissed media claims that politicians who support abortion are ‘brave’ and criticised TDs and Senators who sacrifice…
Hatred and violence must find no shelter amongst communities, the priest at the funeral of murder victim Derek Hutch has warned. Mr Hutch (27) was shot dead while he was sitting alone in a car at Bridgeview halting site in Ronanstown, west Dublin on Saturday January 20. He became the 14th victim of what Gardaí…
Carol Glatz To help parishes, groups, individuals and families better prepare for the World Meeting of Families, Vatican organizers are releasing a multimedia series of catechetical materials in five languages online. The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life announced that starting February 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, it would…
Pope Francis apologised to victims of clergy sex abuse, saying he unknowingly wounded them by the way he defended a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse by his mentor. Speaking with journalists on his flight to Rome from Lima, Peru, the Pope said he only realised later that his words erroneously implied that victims’…