A commitment from Stormont to launch an inquiry into mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland has been hailed as a “watershed moment” by Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. The Northern Irish Executive is committed to the “unequivocal and full implementation” of the recommendations set forth by an expert panel, which included measures such as…
Getting married is a wonderful thing, but there are boxes to be ticked before getting there, writes Jason Osborne Even in an era that is slowly turning against marriage, it’s still a closely-held desire in the hearts of many singles to one day commit themselves to another at the altar. The present western culture often…
US property group Hines has received permission for almost 1,600 build-to-rent apartments on Clonliffe Road in Drumcondra, Dublin, the site of the old Holy Cross Seminary. Residents and locals have reportedly expressed disappointment over the move, feeling it ignores the sentiments of the community. An Bord Pleanála in its decision acknowledged that the height and…
When it comes to the relationship between religion and politics in the future, it’s the job of Churches to help people find “the better part of ourselves”, Irish EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has said. Speaking recently on RTÉ’s The Meaning of Life with Joe Duffy, Ms McGuinness said that the relationship the Churches have with…
The pandemic and ensuing restrictions continue to cast a long shadow on Dublin diocese finances, but a big sale proves lucrative, writes Jason Osborne The archdiocese of Dublin’s 2020 financial report details a continued fall in the diocese’s finances over the last year, a trend accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in…
The launch of The Scottish Catholic heralds a rebirth of Catholic journalistic integrity and ethos in Scotland, hears Jason Osborne The pandemic took a toll on all aspects of the Church and Church-related life, Catholic media being no different. In Scotland, the combined difficulties of the pandemic and ensuing restrictions saw the closure of the…
As the virtual world becomes more a part of daily life, the necessity of protecting ourselves online increases – Jason Osbourne Recent news surrounding Facebook’s rebrand as ‘Meta’ has prompted many people to reflect on the increasing intrusion of the online and virtual into the offline and physical. A couple of years ago it was…
Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, who this week was made an MBE for services to vulnerable children, has previously spoken of his family’s faith in God. Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Rashford said he’s “definitely” religious, and that his faith comes from his mum. “My mum is very religious,” he said, continuing “the faith we…
Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State. Sr Petrini is the first woman and non-clergy member to be secretary general of the Vatican’s governorate. She replaces Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, who was promoted to president, effective October 1. The governorate is the…
Mark Zuckerberg’s plans for the ‘metaverse’ have been criticised as “pure escapism” by Jesuit priest Fr Kevin O’Higgins. Facebook’s Mr Zuckerberg recently announced his company’s rebranding as ‘Meta’ which he described as more in-line with their plans and focus on building the ‘metaverse’. The metaverse is envisioned as a breakthrough of the internet into the…