Pope Francis has met with the traditionalist Society of St Pius X, a group that separated itself from the wider Church decades ago in opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The Vatican confirmed the weekend meeting between the Pontiff and Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society in a sign that…

Kenyan election cannot be ‘a matter of life and death’, say religious leaders Kenya’s religious leaders have denounced the formation of militias ahead of next year’s general election. “We appeal to all politicians with their vested interests to cease making elections a matter of life and death for Kenyans,” the Inter Religious Council of Kenya, which comprises the country’s Catholic bishops’ conference as well as the leaderships…

Poland’s Catholic bishops have called for a permanent ban on abortions in the country to mark the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s  conversion to Christianity in the year 966. “Each person’s life is protected by the fifth commandment, do not kill. So the attitude of Catholics is clear and unchanging,” the bishops’ conference said. “In this…

Mary Miller, Thomondgate touches the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help as John Hegarty and Jerry O’Doherty, Patrick Sarsfield Branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-servicemen & Women) process the pilgrim icon into St John’s Cathedral, Limerick. The Redemptorists are celebrating the 150th anniversary of devotion to the Our Mother of…

The Capuchin Provincial has called on politicians to put the country’s “national interest” first in order to quickly form a new government. Speaking at a Mass for peace and reconciliation at the Capuchin Holy Trinity Church in Cork on Sunday, Bro. Adrian Curran addressed the country’s politicians saying it was time for their “choreography, more…

Staff reporter A last minute decision to attend the funeral of a colleague saved the life of a 79-year-old priest. Fr Michael Coen of Kilconly in Co. Galway was due to hear Confessions at Knock Shrine but decided instead to concelebrate the funeral Mass of Fr Michéal Mannion in Clonbur. However, Fr Coen suffered a heart…

Bishop Brendan Leahy has urged those responsible for thefts at two Limerick city churches “to examine their conscience”. Almost €1,000 was stolen in thefts which occurred in St Paul’s Church in Dooradoyle and St Oliver Plunkett’s Church in Mungret. Speaking on local radio Bishop Leahy said the money was “donated to the Church for activities…

Schools need to embrace Christian meditation The Diocese of Elphin has urged Catholic schools to try Christian meditation, noting that the practice appears absent from many schools in the diocese. In a statement on Facebook, the diocese said there is “a lot of talk about ‘mindfulness’ these days”, adding that it was “strange” that so few people seem to be…

Bernadette Smyth Abortion is a criminal offence in Northern Ireland, governed by sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and section 25 of the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1945. The core purpose of this law is the protection of the unborn child. Ever since the Family Planning Association of Northern…