The Catholic Bishops of Malawi have signalled a growing threat of famine in the country. In an appeal to the international community for help for six million citizens already affected by food insecurity, the prelates said: “Our hospitals are already reporting higher rates of malnutrition cases with the situation feared to worsen as we approach…
The Irish-born Bishop of Dallas, Kevin Farrell, has led calls for peace and “a moment of national reflection” on race and violence in America in the wake of the deadly July 7 shootings of five police officers in the city. Bishop Farrell, who hails from Dublin, described events in Dallas as “staggering” and urged an…
A Catholic nursing home in Belgium has been fined for refusing to euthanise a resident in its care. The Huize Sint-Augustinus home was fined a nominal €6 by the court in Louvain after the family of an elderly woman took a case against the home’s opposition to their request for euthanasia under Belgian law. While…
Indian Archbishop rejects accusations against Mother Teresa An Indian archbishop has rejected a recent verbal attack on the memory of Mother Teresa launched by a radical politician and cleric. Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Jowai described as “rash comments” the denunciation of the famed nun by Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath, a member of parliament representing the hardline Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During a…
Irish pilgrims welcome possible resolution
The breakaway Society of St Pius X appears to have abandoned hopes of reuniting with the Vatican with a statement rejecting the need for recognition from Rome for its existence while voicing criticism of the Pope for “errors” in Church teaching. The statement, made in the name of Bishop Bernard Fellay, the current superior general…
The new presidency bodes ill for the Church, writes Paul Keenan
A former student of Benedict XVI has spoken of his joy at an upsurge in interest in the former Pontiff’s theological works. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week after his return from Rome, where he participated in events to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Fr Joseph Ratzinger’s ordination, Fr Vincent Twomey, Professor Emeritus of…
“Violence in the name of religion is always wrong ” – this was the message of the Catholic bishops of Bangladesh this week as they condemned the slaughter of diners at a restaurant in the capital, Dhaka on July 1. In a message of sympathy issued after 20 people, mainly Italian and Japanese citizens, were…
Education remains the key element in tackling Ireland’s binge drinking, a spokesman for the bishops’ body on alcohol awareness has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week following the release of dramatic new figures for Irish people’s annual consumption of alcohol, Darren Butler, national co-ordinator of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative said that educating…