Dear Editor, I was touched by the story of Tommy in the column by Fr Martin Delaney [The Irish Catholic – August 11, 2022]. It reminded me of a poem which I shall share at the end and of the Prodigal Son experiencing the love of his father through his father’s tears and warm embrace…
Staff reporter Irish bishops have paid tribute to “kind and gentle pastor” Bishop Séamus Freeman SAC, former bishop of the Diocese of Ossory, following his death over the weekend. Apostolic administrator of Ossory, Bishop Denis Nulty said Bishop Freeman served the Church “faithfully for many years” including in his worldwide leadership of the Pallotine Order…
Catholic nuns from a missionary order in the Philippines have denounced a criminal charge accusing them of financing terrorism and violating the country’s anti-terrorism law. Ucanews.com reported the nuns from the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines issued a statement August 18 to denounce the criminal charge filed by the Department of Justice. The nuns termed…
Lima, Amid a political crisis in which the president, his wife and members of her family are accused of corruption and taking bribes, Peru’s bishops have called for dialogue and a commitment to uphold democratic institutions. At a news conference August 18, the bishops issued a statement calling for “an urgent and creative solution” in the face…
Francisco Moreno Barrón, the archbishop of Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from metro San Diego in the United States, condemned the 20 attacks carried out in several towns in the state of Baja California. The archbishop issued an August 13 statement regarding the public transportation vehicles set on fire by armed men on the afternoon…
‘Hunger stones’ reveal ancient drought warnings With an intense drought causing rivers across Europe to shrink, stones with etchings warning of hard times ahead have been re-appearing in a number of the continent’s rivers. One such stone is to be found on the banks of the Elbe River, which begins in the Czech Republic and…
Sri Lankan priest involved in protests granted bail A priest involved in the recent protests in Sri Lanka has been granted bail after being accused of several criminal offenses. Fr Amila Jeewantha Peiris appeared in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on August 12 and was granted bail thanks to two personal sureties of 500,000 Sri…
Derry clerical changes announced The clerical changes for Derry diocese have been announced, to come into effect August 28. Two priests, Fr Colum Clerkin PP Culmore and Msgr Andrew Dolan PP Ballyscullion are to retire, while Fr Chris Ferguson and Fr James Devine are taking a leave of absence. Fr Pat O’Hagan PP Moville has…
A new report from the United Nations on modern slavery provides further documentation of China’s mistreatment of the Uyghur ethnic group, a Muslim minority that according to some human rights groups is suffering genocide. The UN’s Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Dr Tomoya Obokata, wrote that it is “reasonable to conclude” that forced…
David Agren Nicaraguan police burst into Matagalpa diocesan headquarters and removed an outspoken bishop who had been under house arrest for more than two weeks. Police raided the curia in the predawn hours of August 19 and took Bishop Rolando Álvarez, according to a social media statement from the Diocese of Matagalpa. The bishop’s arrest…