Health care proposals currently going through the House of Representatives have met with a mixed reaction from US bishops, praising “critical life protections” but taking issue with other “troubling” issues under consideration. In a letter to House members about the American Health Care Act, introduced to repeal 2010’s Affordable Care Act, the chair of the…
admin
Church rejects invite to join Philippines violent anti-drug campaign
The Church of the Philippines has rejected an invitation from the national police to become part of President Duterte’s murderous campaign against drug dealers. Following the call, issued by police chief General Ronald dela Rosa, the Filipino bishops’ conference insisted that it supports “whatever strategy there is, for as long as there’s no killing and…
Kidnapped aid workers freed in South Sudan
Eight Christian aid workers kidnapped in South Sudan have been freed unharmed. The eight members of the US-based Samaritan’s Purse charity were reportedly snatched by armed gunmen on March 13 in the central Mayendit area. Despite subsequent claims by the county’s military that the aid workers were being held for ransom, no such demand was…
UN urged to bring peace to Syria
The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations has urged the international community to forge an enduring peace for Syria. As the conflict in the Middle Eastern nation reached its sixth anniversary in March, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic told a sitting of the UN in Geneva that “six years of ongoing conflict indicate the failure…
Iconic Chaldean church liberated in Mosul
A Chaldean Catholic church whose image announced the fall of Mosul in 2014 has been liberated. When so-called Islamic State (ISIS) swept through Iraq in June 2014, a ‘before-and-after’ picture of the Church of Our Mother of Perpetual help in Mosul emerged showing the crucifix topping the building replaced by the black banner of the…
Irish people still turn to prayer in face of tragedy
Dear Editor, The loss of four good people with the crash of the Rescue 116 helicopter off the Mayo coast last week was a tragedy, and yet it was one which revealed a side of Christianity and of God that we often overlook – that of compassion. I know of no person who, upon hearing…
14 tips for marrying the right person
Jennifer Roback Morse and Betys Kerekes Jennifer Roback Morse and Betys Kerekes of the Ruth Institute offer advice on how to meet your life partner We all want reliable love in our lives. In this, we are no different than people in any other time in history, despite the tatters of failed marriages all around…
Parishes should turn off lights for Earth Hour
Eco Eye Sr Catherine Brennan SSL Now in its tenth year, Earth Hour 2017 takes place this Saturday, March 25 from 8.30-9.30pm. Earth Hour is the single largest symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born of the hope that people could be mobilised to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a…
Religious education is a ‘lived’ subject
Aoife Kehoe Religion is an exam subject I experience outside the classroom, writes Aoife Kehoe Religious education became an exam subject in 2008. Last year, 1,320 students throughout Ireland sat the exam. The curriculum presents 10 topics from which students must study four. In my class we studied four divergent and truly engaging themes. The…
Michael Davitt: the fulfilment of a career
Donal McCartney Michael Davitt: After the Land League 1882-1906 by Carla King (UCD Press, €50.00) Michael Davitt’s early career has been well documented, most comprehensively by T.W. Moody in Davitt and Irish Revolution 1846-82. It was Moody’s contention that Davitt, in his role as ‘father of the Land League’, made his most significant contribution to…