The three-week-long Synod of Bishops on the Family has finally wrapped up its work with bishops voting on a final document which has been given to Pope Francis. After much deliberation, a ten-man commission produced a final report of 94 paragraphs, which they endorsed unanimously. The synod then voted on the document paragraph by paragraph,…
Cathal Barry
Richness in diversity
The Synod of Bishops was an attempt to capture different viewpoints, writes Cathal Barry
The basics of Baptism
The Church teaches that Baptism is the sacramental entry into the life of faith, writes Cathal Barry
Crisis of priesthood claim ‘simplistic’ – Archbishop
Archbishop Michael Neary has dismissed as “simplistic” claims that Ireland is experiencing a crisis of priesthood. The Archbishop of Tuam insisted that the real issue facing the Church in Ireland was a “crisis of faith”. “Many people today speak of a crisis in the priesthood. This I consider to be a rather simplistic view of…
Number of Modular homes ‘inadequate’, charity claims
A leading homelessness charity has criticised as “inadequate” the Government’s aim to have just 22 of the planned 500 modular homes on stream by Christmas. A spokesperson for the Peter McVerry Trust told The Irish Catholic that “it is quite disappointing”. “There are question marks around how quickly they are going to be rolled out.…
Synod provides ‘manifesto’ for Irish Church renewal – Primate
Time for action rather than ‘talking shops’
Leading obstetrician criticises abortion law
The master of the Rotunda Hospital has criticised the Government’s controversial abortion law. Dr Sam Coulter-Smith claimed the absence of a gestational age limit in the State’s current abortion legislation creates a challenge for doctors. The obstetrician also remarked that he overestimated the number of abortions that would occur on the suicide ground and that…
Catholic teachers feel ‘intimidated’ in faith schools
Church is urged to ensure faith in school
Kerry TD warns against ‘watering down’ Angelus
An independent TD has accused RTÉ of “watering down” its longstanding presentation of the Angelus. Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae criticised “any change in the way the Angelus is presented” following the broadcaster’s major revamp of the twice daily minute-long reflection. Noting that the Angelus had been aired “for decades”, Mr Healy-Rae warned that “any watering…
Keeping your diet on the right track
Eating healthily while traveling can be a real challenge. Regardless of whether the trip is for business or pleasure, it’s always difficult to stay ‘on track’ when you’re out of your daily routine. I’ve encountered such struggles on my travels back and forth to Rome recently to cover the Synod on the Family. Littered with…