Dear Editor, I was astounded to read the amount of evidence suggesting that Bishop Juan Barros not only knew about sexual abuse by Chile’s most notorious clerical sex abuser, but actually watched him abuse teenagers (IC 09/04/2015 ‘Vatican stands by controversial bishop’). When I initially heard of the protests against his appointment as Bishop of…
Courtney McGrail
Agree on lack of leadership
Dear Editor, I agree totally with Terry Healy (IC Letters 26/03/2015) about the lack of leadership from the bishops. When Bishop Kevin Doran tried to explain the teachings of the Church, he was made to apologise – by whom I wonder? Yours etc., Helen Gately, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Turkey reacts angrily to Pope’s Armenia ‘genocide’ remarks
Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Rome and summoned the papal nuncio in Ankara to express its disapproval at Pope Francis’ reference to the death of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1918 as “genocide”. Speaking before concelebrating Mass for the Centenary of Armenian Martyrdom, Pope Francis greeted the…
Church must reach out to the violent in Congo
Brutal violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must stop, and the Church can help by reaching out to those committing the violence, according to religious congregations working in the conflict-torn country. The congregations based in the Diocese of Butembo-Beni say in a joint statement that armed men in the northeastern area of Beni…
100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide
Vatican Round-up
Cardinal accused of abortion lobbying Belgium’s Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels from 1979 to 2010, urged King Baudouin to sign the country’s 1990 abortion law, according to two former politicians. Speaking in a documentary for VTM, the Flemish Broadcast Corporation, Socialist Philippe Moreau and Flemish Christian Democrat Mark Eyskens claimed the cardinal tried to persuade the late king…
Jumping for blood donation
The various religious congregations in Celbridge, Co. Kildare and its surrounds have shown their support to the interdenominational Flesh & Blood campaign, which aims to encourage Church congregations and parishes to see blood donation as a part of their giving: Fr Paul Taylor (centre), Rev. Stephen Neil, Church of Ireland (right) and Pastor Paul Carley,…
Maynooth rolls out fundraising drive
Staff reporter The National Seminary in Maynooth has appealed to supporters to consider pledging funds over five years as part of its ‘Raise the Roof’ fundraising drive. Fundraisers at St Patrick’s College, which has ordained 11,000 priests since its foundation in 1795, have requested a multi-year commitment from donors to enable them to plan for…
Nuncio digging it down in Dingle
Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown planting a tree at a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of St Mary's Church in Dingle, Co. Kerry on Easter Sunday. Bishop of Kerry, Dr Raymond Browne and former Maynooth professor, Msgr Padraig O Fiannachta were also present. Photo: Marian O'Flaherty
Ecology and the Resurrection
The Church must become bolder in speaking up about environmental destruction says Fr Seán McDonagh SSC