The verdict in the closely watched trial of a Finnish Christian MP was announced on Wednesday. A court in Helsinki dismissed all charges against Päivi Räsänen, a physician and mother of five, and Juhana Pohjola, a bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, after a free speech trial that drew international attention. The court said in…
Mourners gathered for the funeral of journalist killed in Ukraine Pierre Zakrzewski were told that Pierre “understood the sacred” and it was this that compelled him to share the stories of others. Mr Zakrzewski was killed alongside Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova when the vehicle they were travelling in was struck by incoming fire outside Kyiv,…
The Chosen actor Jonathan Roumie is taking a break from portraying Christ to play one of Jesus’ more colourful proponents, “the legendary, enigmatic hippie street-preacher,” Lonnie Frisbee. Mr Frisbee was an American charismatic evangelist at work in the late 1960s and into the 1970s, and is regarded as a key figure in the “Jesus movement”…
The refugee crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine is creating a situation “ripe for exploitation” by human traffickers across Europe, but especially in Ireland according to those working in the field. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Policy Officer at Care, Lauren Agnew warned that as refugees…
The pro-life community in Northern Ireland feel “particularly betrayed” after a new law making pro-life presence outside abortion providers illegal was passed in the Northern Assembly March 24 by 55 votes to 29, director of the Iona Institute NI Tracy Harkin has said. Ms Harkin criticised the passage of the law, saying “not only have…
A healthy sense of guilt is actually a good thing but too much of it can be enormously harmful, writes Jason Osborne The sense of wrongdoing is demonised into oblivion today, and there are obvious reasons for that. Many say the Church focused excessively on eliciting guilt from its followers in decades and centuries past,…
Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland Eamon Martin has asked the Faithful of Ireland to join Pope Francis, the bishops and clergy of the world in prayer as they consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration is due to take place this evening, March 25, when Pope Francis will…
An association seeking the canonisation of famous Irish military chaplain killed in action during World War I, Fr Willie Doyle SJ, has recently been launched. The Father Willie Doyle Association is a private association of the Faithful that has now been formally recognised by Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan. Speaking on the occasion of the…
Fasting has been a part of the religious spiritual arsenal for thousands of years and not for no reason, writes Jason Osborne Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are the three pillars upon which a successful Lenten campaign is built, but today we’re going to focus on fasting. The necessity of prayer and almsgiving/charity is evident for all…
Italy’s central region of Lazio, which includes Rome, is offering up to €2,000 to couples who choose to marry there, as part of its ‘In Lazio with love’ scheme. The regional authorities have allocated €10 million in funds as part of their plans to support companies and services in the badly affected “wedding supply chain”…