Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Richard Clarke has warned politicians that a further liberalisation of abortion laws could pressurise parents of unborn children diagnosed with life-limiting conditions to terminate their pregnancies. Archbishop Clarke told The Irish Catholic he feared that liberalisation could create a “eugenics culture” and “begin a process where if there is any…
The Church teaches that the Eucharist is its heart and summit, writes Cathal Barry In an ancient prayer the Church acclaims the mystery of the Eucharist: “O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life…
A senior Vatican official has paid tribute to rock legend David Bowie who has died this week at the age of 69 from cancer. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, tweeted lyrics from the singer’s 1969 hit Space Oddity. The British rocker has previously spoken about the importance of spirituality…
The Irish-born Bishop of Dallas has criticised as “cowboy” the gun culture in the US. Bishop Kevin Farrell, who was born in Dublin, insisted the “cowboy mentality” that existed in the US with regard to guns was leading to thousands of deaths in the country every year. Dr Farrell told The Irish Catholic that he…
The popular Augustinian retreat centre, Orlagh, in Dublin is to be sold. The Augustinians have been on the site since 1872 when they acquired the property for use as the novitiate for those who wished to join their ranks. For more than a decade, however, Orlagh has been a retreat centre offering a programme of…
Not long after reports about the dangers of eating processed meats died down had the media provided further cause for concern. New research apparently found that a typical Indian takeaway meal of a starter, main course and pilau rice can contain far more calories than an adult’s total daily requirements. The study of 280 Indian…
BBC broadcaster Adrian Chiles has complained that the media has come to see religion only in terms of fanaticism and turned its back on millions of ordinary worshippers of all faiths. “Jesus said, ‘The meek will inherit the Earth.’ Well, they might do but they get no press along the way at all, they’re completely…
RTÉ will not reconsider its decision to axe Tim Thurston’s popular Sunday morning radio programme, Gloria, despite a petition calling for its reinstatement gaining support from thousands of loyal fans. Aodán Ó Dubhghaill, Head of RTÉ Lyric fm, told The Irish Catholic that he was hopeful listeners would “hear Tim again in the future” but…
EXCLUSIVE ‘Delight’ at funding from Hilton Hotel fortune Efforts to promote vocations to religious life in Ireland will move up a gear in 2016 thanks to a generous grant from a US-based foundation set up by hotel billionaire Conrad Hilton, The Irish Catholic can reveal. Vocations Ireland, an umbrella organisation which helps religious orders to…
The Church teaches that the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life, writes Cathal Barry The Church teaches that Holy Communion “augments” the recipient’s union with Christ. “The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church…