Questions of Faith It’s a safe scientific assumption to make that humans have been roaming the earth for at least 100,000 years – but if Christ only appeared 2,000 years ago, what happened to all those who died before he arrived? It would be unfair for the pre-Christian deceased to go to Hell for eternity,…
While the date July 12 usually provokes fears about violence and sectarianism in the North of Ireland, a priest on the frontline has said this year was the “quietest ever”. Fr Gary Donegan CP, nationally renowned for his ongoing commitment to conflict resolution and peace building in the country, said that while there was some…
More evidence showing the reality of Christian persecution across the world allows for “meaningful dialogue” to take place, the head of Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland, has said. The comments come after UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that Christians are “the most persecuted group in modern times”. A new report examining Christian…
Questions of Faith In Ireland, the word celebration is almost always associated with drinking alcohol, whether it be a birthday, wedding or even a funeral. Indeed, the Irish are known for their incredible ability to withstand imbibing vast amount of drinks on a night out, and still be able to tell the story lucidly the…
The goal of legendary comedian Brendan Grace was to “lift the gloom of the nation” and the people who came to see him, Fr Brian D’Arcy said at the funeral of the national treasure. The Irish star who died aged 68 following a short illness was best known for his role as Fr Fintan Stack…
In a surprising move at the end of last month, Pope Francis gave relics attributed to St Peter the Apostle to the Orthodox Church. While the gesture was widely praised, some observers have suggested it was inappropriate given the centrality of Rome for Catholics, and so the natural and only location for the first Pope’s…
Candidates preparing for the priesthood should begin their initial year of formation in Ireland rather than abroad, a Waterford priest has said. Since 2016, it has been common for would-be priests to take part in a propaedeutic, or pre-seminary, year to help them discern their vocation. While some Irish candidates complete their preparatory year in…
Over 100 singers and musicians from around the country attended the 50th Annual Irish Church Music Association’s summer school in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, last week on the theme ‘Rejoice and Sing’. This year the Irish Church Music Association’s 50th summer school was preceded by a two-day jubilee conference being held in partnership with the National Centre…
Questions of Faith While 100 years ago it would have been strange and unconventional for a Catholic to marry someone of another religion, today the practice is becoming more and more common. Catholics can certainly celebrate a valid sacramental marriage with a partner of a different Christian denomination, although this practice requires permission from a…
High profile anti-vaccination advocates have hit out at this newspaper after it reported a story stating that priests and theologians said “parents are morally obliged to vaccinate their children”. Most outrage stemmed from the fact that some vaccines were developed from cell lines descending from aborted foetal tissue Irish journalist Gemma O’Doherty wrote on Twitter:…