Two more bishops have decided to join colleagues and forge ahead with First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies this month as Ireland’s bishops remain sharply divided on the issue. Bishop Donal McKeown of the Diocese of Derry and auxiliary Bishop Michael Router in Armagh archdiocese, which both straddle the border, confirmed to The Irish Catholic…
There are many people who want to publicly express the Faith but fear “ridicule” in Ireland, according to the Primate of All-Ireland and the Archbishop of Armagh. Archbishop Eamon Martin was speaking on St Patrick’s Podcast, which operates out of the Saint Patrick Centre in Co. Down. He was asked what he would ban from…
The outrage after the controversial funerals last month of three men from Tallaght who were allegedly connected to a burglary gang was understandable, but there is a bigger question about Irish people, tradition and Catholic funerals that must be answered in modern Ireland. Namely, do people truly understand Catholic funerals? At one of the funerals…
After former cabinet minister Katherine Zappone’s controversial appointment as special envoy for freedom of expression was leaked last week, Senator Ronan Mullen has aired concerns about her suitability. Ms Zappone lost her seat in 2020 after having served as the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and is well known for campaigning in favour of…
A heroic Cork priest who died after reportedly saving a woman by pushing her out of the way of a Bus Eireann bus which lost control has been remembered for “his openness to all people”. The 72-year-old Fr Con Cronin SPS, CC in the Harbour Parishes of Passage West and Monkstown died when struck by the bus…
Church-goers were faster than any other sector to return when restrictions were lifted according to the latest Government research, a revelation which has been dubbed “a hopeful sign” by people in frontline ministry. Dr Pete Lunn, head of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Behavioural Research Unit, told The Irish Catholic that in general people…
The Northern Catholic bishops have said Westminster’s direction for the North of Ireland to establish full abortion services is “gravely disquieting”. They said it is the latest in “a line of decisions by the current Westminster government which we believe threaten the fragile balance of relationships at the heart of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement”.…
New research suggests that the tell-tale signs of a stroke may be evident a decade before the life-threatening event, writes Chai Brady On the island of Ireland, more than 13,000 people have a stroke every year. About 205 of these will die as a result of the stroke. Time is of the essence, and medics have…
Ireland has some of the worst gambling rates, with the effects of lockdown on addiction expected to be felt for years to come, Chai Brady hears A study released this month found that Irish people are the fourth biggest gamblers in the European Union and while this may be hard to believe, for a Cuan Mhuire…
The British government’s plan to ban all Troubles-related criminal and civil actions as well as legacy inquests, has been described as “deeply disheartening” and would “perpetuate pain” according to Irish bishops. The Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry both criticised last week’s announcement. Archbishop Eamon said that…