The number of victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Poland between 1944 and 1990 may be close to 1,100 with the number of abusers close to 300. Those are, however, not the official findings of the Church in Poland. On March 15, the bishops announced they will create a commission of experts…
An unidentified man is in custody after driving a car at high speed through a gate at the Vatican May 18, the Holy See press office said. A guard stationed at the Santa Anna entrance fired his weapon in the direction of the vehicle’s front tires, hitting the left front fender, but the vehicle proceeded…
May 28 – Pentecost Acts 2:1-11Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 341 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13Jn 20:19-23I Deacon Greg Kandra I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone say, “Happy Pentecost”. We are so eager to send glad tidings at Christmas and Easter, exchanging gifts or food or flowers, but shouldn’t Pentecost be given its due?…
Dear Editor, Pope Francis deserves much credit for his heroic witness and work for a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia [The Irish Catholic, May 18, 2023]. Let me be clear from the outset, this is not a ‘two sides’ conflict. Russia’s illegal, unjust and genocidal invasion of Ukraine must be condemned by…
Columnist with The Irish Catholic David Quinn says he is relieved that a Limerick woman who seriously defamed him on social media has apologised and the case is now concluded. The issue arose last May during the controversy over the Religious Sisters of Charity and the proposed relocation of the National Maternity Hospital. Karen Sugrue,…
Parishes and lay associations can be a leaven for each other, writes Prof. Susan Timoney “To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body.” Rather than a contemporary summary of the Second Vatican Council’s idea of the renewal of the vocation of…
Any serious and honest assessment must contend with the profound ethical costs that are involved in new genetic technologies, writes David Mullins Very many of the debates we have regarding the application of genetic technologies to embryonic human life revolve around conflicts between potential and promise, perils and pitfalls. A recent case in point can…
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has criticised as “reckless” Government inaction when it comes to protecting children from often-violent pornography. This comes following the publication of a study earlier this week showing the link between children watching pornography and sexual violence. Speaking on the issue, the Meath West TD said that pornography is “distorting children’s understanding…
A new film from EWTN Ireland telling the story of a Catholic priest in hiding during the 16th and 17th centuries has received a blessing from Pope Francis. The film, Faith of Our Fathers, was shown at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome earlier this month and was well received by viewers…
Lisa Hendey Lately I note a trend on social media, among my peers of a certain age. Amid the cute grandbaby pictures at Christmas there were pleas for intercessory prayer for their aging parents. Going home for the holidays can be a real wakeup call as we realise that – seemingly overnight – our…