Dear Editor, Nuala O’Loan is very well aware of the important roles that women have played in the history of the Church, as can be seen in her article under The View (‘The Church needs to separate decision-making from ordination’ IC 22/10/2015). However, she still would like to see women holding more ‘prestigious’ places in…
Courtney McGrail
Nicaragua’s bishops express concerns about ocean-linking canal
Nicaraguan Church officials are concerned about the potential effects of a canal planned to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans across the Central American country. The contract to build and operate the 278km canal was awarded in June 2013 to a newly created Chinese-Nicaraguan consortium headed by Chinese businessman Wang Jing who has apparently brought…
Central African Republic trip in doubt
Doubts have been raised over Pope Francis’ planned trip to the war-torn Central African Republic later this month. Speaking at Sunday’s Angelus, the Pontiff called for the country’s warring opponents to “put an end to this cycle of violence”, and declared that he “hopes” to visit the beleaguered country. Hitherto a papal visit over November…
Spanish priest and Italian laywoman arrested for leaking documents
A Spanish priest and an Italian public relations expert have been arrested by the Vatican following an investigation into the leaking of confidential documents from the Holy See. Msgr Lucio Ángel Vallejo Balda and Francesca Chaouqui were arrested after a probe investigating the dissemination of “news and confidential documents” to the journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, whose…
Comments on Communion for divorced do not reflect Pope’s thinking – Vatican
The Holy See has distanced itself from claims that Pope Francis told an Italian journalist that ultimately all divorced Catholics who wish to receive Communion will be enabled to do so. Writing in La Republicca, veteran reporter Eugenio Scalfari claimed that during a phone conversation the Pontiff asked what he thought of the conclusions of…
World News in Brief
Syria bishops call for negotiated solutions Syriac Catholic bishops have called for diplomatic solutions to achieve peace in Syria and Iraq. In a statement released at the conclusion of their annual synod, held in Harissa, Lebanon, the bishops urged countries, especially those directly involved in the Syrian conflict, to follow a path of “negotiation to…
World of Books
By the Books Editor
An artist born to sing for the nation
An Poc ar Buile: The Life & Times of Seán Ó Sé by Seán Ó Sé with Patricia Ahern (Collins Press, €17.99.
It’s the little things that make a big difference
Adding detail is one of my favourite things about decorating a room. I love how a few simple ornaments and soft furnishings can make such a difference. In fact, it’s a great way to add colour to your room if you’re not quite bold enough to have peacock blue walls! It’s easy to pick up…
Building hope in Ethiopia
Living Youth, the Diocese of Down & Connor’s Youth Commission, and Ulster University sent a joint team of 14 young people to Ethiopia with Habitat for Humanity to build toilet blocks for two communities there, and some of the young people wrote a diary of their time.