Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged families to connect with each other, and is praying particularly for those whose family life has been broken by “distance, by disagreement or breakdown”. In his St Patrick’s Day message the Primate of All Ireland said he was delighted to link with the “family of the Irish” at home and…
The Government’s strategy to tackle family homelessness is nothing more than an “outdated promise” and a “stack of press statements” according to Sr Stanislaus Kennedy of Focus Ireland. Describing last year as the worst year of homelessness in the history of the State, the leading campaigner poured ridicule on the Government’s response to the crisis,…
The Archbishop of Dublin has hinted that the diocese may change parish boundaries, as they do not always “reflect the current demographic reality of the diocese”. Speaking at the launch of the book Tomorrow’s Parish, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that parishes would have to face “stark choices” about their future. He questioned whether their structure…
Founder member of the leadership team of the Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery [pictured] has thrown down a gauntlet for action instead of words to Dublin’s Archbishop Martin in the wake of Dr Martin’s comments on Mary McAleese. Last week Archbishop Martin said: “Probably the most significant negative factor that influences attitudes to…
The majority of The Irish Catholic readers disagree with former Irish president Mary McAleese after almost 500 voiced opposition to statements she made over the weekend. In a poll conducted by this paper on social media about 70% of over 650 people answered ‘no’ to the statement: ‘In a recent RTÉ article, former president Mary…
In one of the biggest pro-life demonstrations ever in Ireland, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital to call for a ‘No’ vote in the upcoming abortion referendum. Demonstrators of all ages, from across Ireland, marched from Parnell Square to Merrion Square to advocate for the retention of the Eighth…
Sources close to former President Mary McAleese have said that she was “seriously misquoted” by national and international media in relation to a comment about abortion. Mrs McAleese is said to be wrongly reported by the BBC, RTÉ the Irish Independent, Breitbart the South China Morning Post and many others today, Friday March 9,…
Nurses find it increasingly difficult to maintain a high-level of personal contact with patients given the crowded conditions in many hospitals, a chaplains’ representative has said. Fr Gerry Byrne of the National Association of Healthcare Chaplains told The Irish Catholic that many nurses and other hospital staff find themselves constantly in fire-fighting mode. He also…
Describing the people involved in the looting of a Lidl in Tallaght as ‘scumbags’ or worse, dehumanises not only the hardened criminals, but young children too. Having lived in Brookfield for two decades – one of the most socially-disadvantaged areas in Tallaght – the overwhelming feeling in the community is apathy, and in many cases,…
With the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) less than six months away the new prior of Lough Derg is looking forward to the major event, and hoping he can encourage pilgrims to pray for its success. Fr Laurence (La) Flynn has been behind the wheel at Lough Derg since October last year, and has a…