Dear Editor, I fully agree with the points that John Rogers makes (Letters IC 24/08/2017) about the priestly ordination of men. But where are they? The men I mean. Women outnumber men in any Church ceremony or occasion by at least seven to one. Girls so outnumber boys in any youth gathering that one would almost believe…
Trócaire has called upon Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to place human rights and solidarity at the centre of his foreign policy, following announcements that he will be doubling Ireland’s diplomatic presence by 2025. Mr Varadkar has said that he wants to outline “Ireland’s place in the world in the years ahead”. “As Ireland seeks election to…
The British government lobbied extensively while the Vatican was trying to find a successor to Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, newly declassified state papers reveal. The authorities were keen that a new Primate would be less critical of British policy in the North. Files released by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) reveal that…
Sophie Overall “I do not believe the term, ‘late vocation’ exists,” Bro. Malachy Thompson says when he looks back on how he came to join the Cistercian monks. “God calls people to the religious life when they are ready to truly experience it.” Bro. Malachy is currently the Director of Vocations at Mount St Joseph…
A day after appealing for an end to the violent persecution of the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, the Vatican announced Pope Francis will visit the country in late November. After the visit on November 27-30 to the cities of Yangon and Naypyitaw in Myanmar, the Pope will travel on to Dhaka, Bangladesh,…
Catholic dioceses and charities are quickly organising to help in the aftermath of a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with heavy rains and winds of 130 miles per hour into the Rockport, Texas. The hurricane made landfall late on Friday, August 25. The National Weather Service said in a tweet two days later that…
The Indonesian government has met with Catholic bishops to discuss how a character-building programme could tackle extremism. The programme is already in place in Catholic schools, but Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy is looking into applying the same model to state-run schools. It is expected these schools will act as model schools for other institutions, providing…
Reacting to a recent video in which the Vatican and the Pope were threatened by ISIS, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said it represented “senseless hatred”. The Vatican obviously is concerned about terrorist threats and will continue to remain vigilant according to the Vatican Secretary of State. Cardinal Parolin said he had seen the most recent video…
A priest in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Paraiba was found dead in his rectory Thursday morning, with signs of having been stabbed, according to police. The body of Fr Pedro Gomes Bezerra (49) was discovered on August 24 in Borborema. His body was found wrapped in sheets in his residence, which was in shambles.…
Believers are ‘living stones’ that can build up the Church Although the Church is built upon a strong foundation, it is always in need of being reformed and repaired, Pope Francis has said. Before reciting the Angelus prayer last Sunday, Pope Francis said that Christians are the “living stones” that Christ uses to fill in…