The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has “broadly welcomed” Budget 2017 for its efforts in the areas of social housing and early childhood care and education, but the Disability Federation has described its measures as “utterly failing disabled people”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the Minister for Finance commended the Budget to…

Parents who lost children to life-limiting conditions have thanked Archbishop Eamon Martin for his call for continued legal protections for the unborn, including those with such conditions. Last weekend, the Primate appeared on RTÉ’s This Week programme to argue that there is no such thing as limited abortion and, in relation to life-limiting conditions that…

Social Justice Ireland (SJI) has urged the Government to prioritise “investment over tax cuts” in the forthcoming Budget. Issuing a call ahead of next week’s Budget for 2017, Fr Sean Healy, SJI director said: “1.3 million people (29% of the population) are experiencing deprivation. This means they are going without basic necessities such as heating…

Pope Francis has brought messages of peace and mutual respect to the nations of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Visiting the countries over October 1 and 2 under the theme of ‘Pax Vobiscum’ (Peace to You), the Pope emphasised “peaceful coexistence among all peoples”. Addressing Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili, the Pontiff noted that “the Catholic Church, which…

In a heartfelt letter as he announced his retirement due to ill-health, Bishop Liam McDaid of Clogher has urged people not to opt out of the Church over the failings of some priests and bishops. In a letter to the people of Clogher explaining that his Parkinson’s disease had not left “much room for discussion”…

A Catholic priest in Belfast was subjected to “vile” abuse by nationalist residents of the Ardoyne after he oversaw the end of the Twaddell Avenue protest camp on October 1. In his last act as a priest of the Ardoyne, Fr Gary Donegan was on hand to witness the conclusion of the protest that had…

The failed ceasefire bodes ill for remaining Christians, writes Paul Keenan

Ireland’s missionary spirit is alive, with news that last year 2,000 people engaged in voluntary service in no fewer than 50 countries worldwide. The figures have been revealed by Comhlám, the umbrella organisation for volunteer development workers, as it prepares to launch a fresh drive in cooperation with Irish Aid for new volunteers for a…

A priest of the North Belfast parish of Ardoyne has welcomed moves to end the Twaddell Avenue stand-off that has seen a loyalist protest camp maintained in the community for over two years. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week as he prepared to depart Holy Cross parish, Fr Gary Donegan expressed his joy that…

The past is slowly catching up with President Duterte, writes Paul Keenan