Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he attended the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he obtained degrees in philosophy and theology and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he studied social institutional communications. From 2002-2005 he was an Editor in the Central Information Service of Vatican Radio. In this role, he travelled with Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on overseas trips. In 2005, he returned to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. He is a regular contributor to programmes on RTÉ, BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also have extensive experience offering media training and coaching in the voluntary sector. Mr Kelly is a weekly columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling secular newspaper the Irish Independent and has been published in The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for Catholic News Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Micheal finished his stint as Editor of The Irish Catholic in January 2024 and has taken up the position of Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.
The Government has decided to lift the controversial ban on people attending Mass and other religious services. Congregations will be permitted to gather for public worship from next Tuesday (December 1). The Cabinet met this afternoon (Friday) and approved a plan for the Republic to move to level three restrictions. Meanwhile, in the North people…
“You’re like a broken record,” a friend said to me at the weekend (from a safe distance). Half-joking, half-serious he was referring to the fact that I was – again – bending his ear about the injustice of the draconian restrictions on public worship. This weekend, the North will join the Republic with parishioners unable…
Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that he cannot understand why it might be possible to buy alcohol but not visit a church. He also urged politicians to understand that Christmas is about more than “eating and drinking”. Archbishop Eamon said the decision by the North’s Executive to close churches in hugely disappointing…
Many people were relieved to hear Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicate on RTÉ Radio that public Masses will likely begin again in the Republic by early December when level five restrictions are set to be eased. Under the original framework, public worship is currently also banned under level three (the restrictions we are expected to move…
A new EU budget ruling could violate national sovereignty in an “undemocratic and divisive move”, according to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. The EU recently reached an agreement that gives Brussels the green light to cut funding to EU member countries over issues such as human rights and the independence of the judiciary.…
The world has lost a great man in the death of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks at the weekend. I last met him in London in early March just before Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were imposed. He had just published a new book Morality and was as full of energy and ideas as ever. Lord Sacks – who…
Irish entrepreneur Declan Ganley has begun a constitutional challenge to the ban on attending Mass and other religious ceremonies. Co. Galway-based Mr Ganley, who has been a vocal critic on social media of the ban on Mass, initiated judicial review proceedings against Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and the State on Thursday and the matter…
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) succinctly describes the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life”. It says that everything that we do as believers is bound up with the Eucharist and is oriented towards it. From the very beginning, the followers of Jesus gathered together on the Lord’s Day for the Eucharist.…
The Primate of All-Ireland has said he is hopeful that the Government will consider lifting a ban on public worship in place as a measure against Covid-19. Archbishop Eamon Martin was speaking after a meeting between members of the Irish bishops’ conference and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The archbishop also pointed out the lack of evidence…
The Government has indicated an unwillingness to relax the ban on public Masses after a meeting between Church leaders and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. However, both sides said that the important role of faith was acknowledged and that dialogue would continue. The move will disappoint many priests and parishioners who have been working hard to ensure…