Family news and events

Breast milk donations needed The Western Trust Milk Bank is located in Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, and is the only human milk bank in the country. It has provided help for hundreds of premature and sick babies both north and south in Ireland, since it opened in 2000. The service operates in a similar way to…

Catholics bash US former chief strategist after migrant comments

US Catholics have  condemned comments made by Donald’s Trump’s ex-Chief Strategist Steve Bannon who said the Church only supports migrants to fill churches, with a New York cardinal dubbing them “preposterous”. Mr Bannon criticised the Church’s decision to oppose ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme, saying they are “unable to come to…

Vatican roundup

Pope increases liturgical translation powers of bishops In changes to the Code of Canon Law regarding translations of the Mass and other liturgical texts, Pope Francis has shifted more responsibility to local bishops’ conferences. The document released by the Vatican, Magnum Principium, noted the sometimes tense relationship between bishops’ conferences and the Congregation for Divine Worship…

India law on conversions targets missionaries

India’s Catholic bishops have rejected a bill they believe is designed to retain a Hindu-only state. India now has seven states with a law against religious conversions, after the governor of Jharkhand signed into effect the controversial bill. Governor Draudpadi Murmu signed her approval despite protests from Christian groups and opposition parties, who said that…

Eighth Amendment has most ethical approach

Dear Editor, David Mullins’ article on the interview that Dr Rhona Mahony gave to Newstalk was very revealing (IC 07/09/2017). Time and again we see the media accepting the idea that women’s lives are being put in danger in this country because doctors are not allowed to perform abortions. Yet, whenever you look more closely at…

Grandparents should intervene in family issues – Archbishop

Grandparents have a responsibility to “step in and say something” to help their children and grandchildren, and bring family together. Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of Ireland, said in a Mass celebrating the 2017 Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock that it can be difficult to make connections, especially “in a generation which can be so individualistic”.…

News in Brief

Belfast’s oldest church reopens The oldest Catholic Church in Belfast has reopened for Mass after being closed for almost two months. Masses were celebrated at St Mary’s at the weekend for the first time since mid-July, with Mass having been celebrated at the Living Youth building, beside the church in Chapel Lane. St Mary’s, where…

Goldminers refuse access to Mass rock

A Canadian gold mining firm has turned down a request by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) to access land in Co. Tyrone where locals say a Mass rock is located. The AOH says up to 12 bands and several hundred people are expected to attend a parade in Greencastle on Sunday to mark the…