News In Brief Missionaries at home should be thanked just as much as those who have worked abroad, the chair of the Bishops’ Council for Missions has said. Speaking at a Mass in Maynooth organised by World Missions Ireland, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA, a onetime missionary in Africa, gave thanks for all those who made…
Unborn children may still be protected by the Constitution even if the Eighth Amendment is repealed, former Fine Gael leader and minister for finance Michael Noonan has said. Speaking in a Fine Gael parliamentary meeting, Mr Noonan urged the Oireachtas Committee on the Eight Amendment to take legal advice on what the implications would be…
Integrity was the cornerstone of Liam Cosgrave’s life, writes Msgr John Wilson iam Cosgrave’s wife Vera died on September 16, 2016 and was buried from this Church. Now just over one year later we gather once more this time for Liam’s funeral and for his last journey to and from this Church where he…
Catholic bishops in the Philippines say they are not acting to undermine the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte by offering sanctuary to several policemen allegedly linked to drug-related killings. Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the bishops’ conference, said the church leaders should not be perceived as plotting against anyone. “The Church is not one…
Accused of historic sexual abuse Cardinal George Pell will face a four week committal hearing next year, and up to 50 witnesses are expected to be called upon. Cardinal Pell (76) is the most senior Catholic Church official to face such charges, and is currently on leave from his position as the Vatican’s Prefect of…
Polish Catholics from hundreds of parishes joined a rosary prayer along the border of the country to pray for Poland and the world. The event, called ‘Rosary to the Borders’ was held on the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, and almost 320 Churches along the border were identified as…
It has been discovered that the head of the Legionaries of Christ’s Rome seminary fathered two children in yet another scandal for the order. In a statement, they announced that Fr Oscar Turrion, who was the rector of the Pontifical International, would leave the priesthood. It included a letter from the priest who asked “forgiveness…
People wave Spanish flags during a demonstration organised by the Catalan Civil Society in Barcelona. Photo: CNS
Catholic leaders in Mali warned that parishes face increasing assaults by Islamic militants despite attempts to enforce a peace deal in the North African country. “Our churches and chapels are now being targeted by extremists, who’ve told Christians not to gather to pray,” said Msgr Edmond Dembele, Secretary General of the Malian bishops’ conference. Tensions…
China is a communist nation therefore the Catholic Church must be realistic and seek a stance of mutual tolerance with the government, said a former teacher at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. “I’m an optimist, above all because I believe in God. God is the Lord of human history. Whatever way human history proceeds, it never…