A politician in the Isle of Man has apologised for being “lax” after he was accused of plagiarising large extracts of an article opposing same-sex marriage that appeared in The Irish Catholic newspaper. Zac Hall, who used the allegedly plagiarised text in a speech against same-sex marriage in the Isle of Man’s House of Keys,…
The principal of one of Ireland’s largest Catholic post-primary schools has credited male classroom assistants for the impressive exam results achieved by boys in his school. St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook in Co. Armagh, has almost doubled the amount of “good” GCSE passes by boys in just two years. In 2013, 36% of boys at…
Tusla has expressed misgivings about the Catholic nature of the ethos of the family centre in Boyle EXCLUSIVE The State has threatened to withdraw funding from a Catholic family life centre unless its faith-based ethos is diluted, The Irish Catholic can reveal. The Irish Catholic understands that Tusla – the child and family agency –…
The Pope’s imminent document will speak to couples and families struggling to cope with the pressures of society, writes Cathal Barry Just when you thought the buzz from last year’s family synod was petering out, it’s set to come back with a bang. The debate around Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics is set to…
The Irish priest who leads the Church’s lobbying campaign at the European Union (EU) has warned that only the most “ideologically driven” politicians or media outlets attempt to silence Church leaders from speaking publically. Fr Patrick Daly, General Secretary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE), insisted Catholic bishops “have a…
More than 150 representatives of associations and movements of the lay faithful were urged to bring about a “culture of mercy” at a special one day conference at the weekend. Speakers at ‘Opening the Door of Mercy’, which was organised by the Council for Pastoral Renewal and Adult Faith Development of the Irish Bishops’ Conference,…
Frank Kelly was a “committed” Catholic, according to the celebrated actor’s former parish priest. Mr Kelly, who was famous for roles including Fr Jack Hackett in the hit series Fr Ted, died on Sunday aged 77. Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of concelebrating at the actor’s funeral on Wednesday at the Church of the…
A clear majority of newly elected Fianna Fáil TDs have said they are opposed to the repeal of the pro-life amendment to the Irish Constitution. In addition, of the 181 candidates who told pro-abortion groups that they favour the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, 80% failed to be elected. Fianna Fáil has emerged in a…
Advances in modern medicine have led to a significant rise in the length of time people are living. That’s to be welcomed of course, but the improvement in healthcare shouldn’t mean people rest on their laurels with regard to their health. We are now living two-and-a-half years longer than we did a decade ago, according…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged Catholic schools to be “courageous” in trialling new ways of celebrating First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies. Noting that “any attempt to get a national decision” on how best to celebrate First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies would fail, the Archbishop of Armagh insisted “the best examples of parish, home, school, linking…