Book claims Pope Francis’ revolution ‘may disappoint’ The Pope is engaged in a “radical revolution” that may disappoint both progressives and traditionalists, according to Cardinal Walter Kasper’s new book Pope Francis – Revolution of Tenderness and Mercy. Describing how the Holy Father distanced himself from such extreme positions in his final address at October 2014’s…

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has advised priests that, in the context of forthcoming referendums, churches “are not appropriate places” to distribute campaign literature and that in “no circumstance” should they be distributed through schools. A statement on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website says that “experience has shown that during political campaigns, churches, because…

Dublin archdiocese aims to continue operating a car park in the grounds of Clonliffe College for events in Croke Park while it seeks clarification of an An Bord Pleanala decision that it is not exempt from planning permission. The car park, which can take more than 3,000 vehicles, including 100 specials needs places, has been…

The Sisters of Mercy Western Province, in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Irish charity Vita, as a renewal of a longstanding partnership to fight hunger and climate change in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Working together, the Sisters of Mercy and Vita are delivering sustainable livelihoods to thousands of farm families,…

Members of various prayer groups and parishes have come together to form a new initiative asking for committed Catholics to pray that Ireland “will uphold the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman in the upcoming referendum”. Working from an office provided by Portlaoise parish in Co. Laois the six project members are…

MPs have voted against clarifying Britain’s abortion laws to establish beyond dispute that gender-related abortion is illegal. Conservative MP Fiona Bruce had proposed an amendment to the Serious Crimes Bill that nothing in the 1967 Abortion Act should be interpreted as allowing sex-selected abortion. Opposed on the day, however, by Prime Minister David Cameron, with…

Hong Kong’s retired archbishop, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, has contested recent suggestions from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin that diplomatic relations between Rome and China may be on the horizon. Claiming that he and others find it difficult to share Cardinal Parolin’s optimism, he said “We do not see any sign that…

The decision of the government of South Sudan to postpone elections scheduled for June has been praised by Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kusala of Tombura-Yambio as a positive development for peace. A recent meeting of South Sudan’s bishops’ conference had seen concerns expressed about the coming elections, according to Bishop Kusala, but the “wise” decision would…

Pope Francis has urged Ukraine’s Catholic bishops to focus on the social and human tragedies unfolding in their country and avoid politicising their positions. Meeting the bishops from the country’s Byzantine- and Latin-rite traditions on an ad limina visit to Rome, he urged them to work together, saying, “The sense of justice and truth is…

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited Rome to meet Pope Francis in advance of the upcoming G7 summit in Munich this June. Speaking after the unusually long 40-minute audience, Ms Merkel said the main purpose of her visit had been to outline the summit agenda, as its emphasis on the elimination of poverty was “of…