Conservative Catholic voices have told this paper that recent episcopal oversight of the Irish Synodal Pathway has transformed what they once feared might be an open-ended discernment exercise into something more structured — and more recognisably Catholic — ahead of the National Synodal Assembly in October. The Irish Synodal Pathway is now in its most…
Working Groups prepare to wrap up discussions Conservative Catholic voices have told this paper that recent episcopal oversight of the Irish Synodal Pathway proceedings– what they describe as a “reigning in”-has transformed what they perceived as a potentially open-ended discernment exercise into a more practical and more “Catholic” structure for the National Irish Synod in…
Fr Brendan Hoban wrote recently with characteristic elegance and genuine pastoral concern about Christian unity, and his reflection on the recent meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Sarah Mullally is worth engaging seriously with. Yet there is a significant gap at the heart of his argument — one that threatens to undermine the very…
Jerusalem bishop to promote pilgrimage of peace at Knock The Holy Land risks becoming “little more than a Christian theme park” if the persecution of its ancient Christian community is not halted, a senior Catholic charity leader has warned — as a Jerusalem bishop prepares to bring an urgent appeal to Ireland this month. Michael…
Theologian’s 1958 warning proved prophetic, says Irish scholar A little-known article written by a young Joseph Ratzinger in 1958 predicted with striking accuracy the collapse of Catholic practice across the Western world including Ireland, according to one of Ireland’s leading theologians. Fr Vincent Twomey SVD, emeritus professor of moral theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth,…
An Irish theologian has said that lack of moral courage among the Irish people has roots that stretch back centuries — and that it continues to shape the character of Irish society today. Fr Vincent Twomey, former Professor of Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, made the observation during a wide-ranging conversation on Just…
Bishop Deenihan also challenged the response of media to the recent national survey on patronage The Bishop of Meath has accused ideologically-driven groups, many funded from outside the State, of lobbying politicians and media with a “narrow, nuanced and distorted narrative” about Catholic schools in Ireland. Bishop Tom Deenihan, who holds the education brief…
Exclusive School subject “opt-outs are now being framed as a new card to disrupt the ethos of Catholic schools” the CEO of the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP), Alan Hynes has warned. “We need to be clear: if we are going to divest schools — which we support — then our Catholic schools, which the…
The Bishop of Meath has said he if there is a wish for divesting by parents and staff of a school in his diocese he will “respect that and it will happen.” Bishop Tom Deenihan made the commitment at the Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations of Saint Oliver’s National School in Navan on Wednesday. “If there is…
A Catholic primary school in Navan celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this week with Mass in the local church followed by celebrations at the school, with the Bishop of Meath praising the institution as a model of what Catholic education can and should be. St Oliver’s National School, a co-educational Catholic primary school in Navan, Co.…