A study that purported to show that non-religious teachers are hiding their beliefs out of fear it could affect their job prospects in schools with a religious ethos has been condemned as providing “no basis for advocating change to policy or to law” by a Catholic educationalist. Leading theologian and professor at Mary Immaculate College,…
The European Parliament May 3 adopted a report on the persecution of religious minorities that has been denounced as “openly hostile towards religion” by human rights experts. Second-class rights The report, Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion, was criticised by the Catholic Church, with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of…
The Covid pandemic seems to be followed by a pandemic of tired and stressed-out people, writes Jason Osborne A cursory google reveals that the number of people wondering whether they’re burnt out is at something of an all-time high. Anecdotally, chatting to friends reveals a general sense of lingering exhaustion or lethargy that started during the pandemic…
There’s no evidence that introducing euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide reduces incidences of suicide UK bioethicist David Jones tells Jason Osborne A recent peer-reviewed study from the UK’s Anscombe Bioethics Centre has debunked claims that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS) leads to fewer non-assisted suicides. Prof. David Jones, Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, with this…
The Church in Ireland will continue to shrink, the new Bishop of Galway has predicted, but with the help of young people engaging with the synodal process can be renewed afresh. Bishop Michael Duignan was speaking as he took on the leadership of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora in addition to remaining as Bishop of Clonfert.…
A Catholic couple stand by their decision to travel over 70km to attend Mass during lockdown, saying they would rather go to jail than pay a €300 fine. Jim Ryan (64) and his wife Ann (59) were summoned to court earlier this month for exceeding the 5km limit on Palm Sunday last year. The couple…
The Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland’s NI election appeal, ‘Make Your Voices Heard’ was refused publication by the Belfast Telegraph, having initially agreed to publish it. The Belfast Telegraph took issue with passages in the appeal pertaining to pro-life values and unborn life. Taking to Twitter, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said he was “disturbed…
With Easter Sunday come and gone, it’s important not to forget to continue celebrating what God has done for us, writes Jason Osborne If you’re in any way like me, you’ll be feeling like you’re nearly at the end of your spiritual-attention span, having weathered a long Lent and embraced the Triduum, with all of its…
A new programme for young couples is seeking to help them grow individually, as a couple and in communion with God and their neighbours, writes Jason Osborne Once the wedding is done and dusted, couples are often left adrift, figuring marriage out on their own. While it can be done, as with everything else on…
Antonio Banderas took to social media to share his participation in his native Spain’s Holy Week festivities. Spain is known for its huge processions at important times throughout the Catholic calendar, and it was to take part in these that Mr Banderas returned to Malaga. Writing on Twitter, he said, “After three years of waiting,…