As a “first choice”, members of the Italian bishops’ conference decided to focus their study of clerical sexual abuse in the country on cases reported to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 2000 to 2021. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, the new president of the conference, told reporters May 27 that…
Charlotte Vard Just last month, echoes of laughter and exclamations of pleasant surprise were heard throughout Newbridge Parish Centre, as we hosted sixth class Confirmation retreats. For just three days, Confirmation students were given the opportunity to grow in their faith, have fun, and build relationships. I’ve said it for the past nine years and…
After the Catholic Church’s persistent call for humanitarian assistance in Tigray, the arrival of hundreds of aid trucks in the northern Ethiopia region is a sign of hope for millions of people driven to the brink of famine by war, said a Church source. Since the start of the war in November 2020, the Church…
Dear Editor, The recent discussion on the proposed new maternity hospital, planned for the grounds of St Vincent’s University (general) Hospital, needs serious critical analysis. Apart from specific issues in relation to the project, there was a strong undertone calling for the ‘liberation of Irish society’ from the influence of religion-based morality in public services.…
Helen Vysotska Love Notes Can’t we accept that people have different values when it comes to sex outside marriage? We need to be realistic: times have changed since the Bible was written. Modern culture tells us that if something feels good and we want it, we should have it. Go ahead, YOLO (You Only Live…
Pope calls for stricter gun laws after Texas shooting Saying his heart was broken at the news of at least 19 children and two adults being shot and killed at a Texas elementary school, Pope Francis said it was time to say “Enough!” and enact stricter laws on gun sales. At the end of his…
Fr Billy Swan The recent controversy over the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital brought the issue of Catholic ethos sharply into focus. The central issue played out in the media was that medical procedures in the hospital should not be influenced by Catholic ethos. Why? Because a Catholic ethos, it is assumed, is an…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady Mass attendance down by two-thirds in some parishes The country’s largest diocese is preparing for what has been described as “radical change” and consolidation of parishes. It comes as statistics reveal a steep decline in Mass attendance – even before the pandemic – with some parishes seeing a drop of…
San Francisco’s archbishop declared May 20 that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not “to be admitted” to Communion unless and until she publicly repudiates “support for abortion ‘rights’” and goes to confession and receives absolution “for her cooperation in this evil”. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said he decided to make this declaration “after numerous attempts to…
Staff reporter Social Justice Ireland have warned that “flaws” in the Government’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis could lead to problems, as the cost of living crisis hits Ireland. Fr Sean Healy SMA, head of SJI, told The Irish Catholic that while the Government have taken a good, human rights approach to the Ukraine…