Ireland cannot be silent on the “contempt” shown by Chinese authorities following the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun for his support of democracy in Hong Kong, said Senator Gerard Craughwell. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the independent senator asked “how many tonnes of beef is the human rights abuse in Hong Kong worth to…
Titus Brandsma is a saint for the fake news era, says Irish Carmelites provincial
Newly canonised St Titus Brandsma “stood up for the truth” and can be a saint to combat the era of fake news, said the provincial of the Carmelites in Ireland. St Brandsma was a Dutch Carmelite priest, professor and journalist who opposed Nazi propaganda in Catholic newspapers. He was arrested for distributing letters forbidding Catholic…
TD hits back at ‘fanatical’ Church-bashing over NMH
TD Michael Collins hit back at critics with “fanatical agendas” for “bashing” the Catholic Church over the deal for the new National Maternity Hospital. Speaking in the Dáil, the independent TD said that “critics with fanatical agendas are claiming that a Catholic ethos” would compromise the hospital’s ability to deliver its services. “These claims are…
Golden jubilee for Waterford parish
St Paul’s Parish in Lisduggan, Waterford City celebrated 50 years of parish life May 7, with a Mass celebrated by bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan. Bright May sunshine greeted parishioners and clergy, as well as the jubilee choir – formed from the three parish choirs – who under the direction of organiser Sean…
Cyclists complete 310km bike ride for Bro. Kevin
Cyclists gathered in Dublin on Saturday, May 13, to begin their 310km cycle to West Cork to raise funds for Bro. Kevin and Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. Bro. Kevin Crowley met the cyclists and wished them well for the journey ahead, which they completed Sunday May 14, finishing in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Bro. Kevin’s…
More than 500 public rosary rallies held across Ireland
Thousands of Catholics across the island of Ireland celebrated the 105th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, with 515 public rosary rallies held May 14. Organisers the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation (ISFCC) said the number of rallies is growing quickly, describing it as “a tsunami of graces for Ireland”. “You can…
Coming to God through prayer and work
Personal Profile When Karen Wynne left home to work in Dublin, her mother encouraged her to join a prayer group. But Karen resisted until a trip to Medjugorje open her eyes to the importance of prayer and work in community are to strengthen your faith. Karen always had a connection to the Faith due to…
Knights of Columbanus celebrate founder’s legacy
The Knights of Columbanus celebrated the centenary anniversary of its founder Canon James O’Neill on May 6 and 7 in Ballycastle. The gathering was well attended, with a number of talks from eminent speakers including historian Dr Éamon Phoenix, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Bishop Noel Treanor, Fr Eddie McGee and Mickey Harte. Fr McGee recounted the…
‘No doubt’ SDLP’s abortion position turned away voters, says Baroness O’Loan
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has said there is “no doubt” that many committed nationalist voters didn’t vote for the SDLP because of their position on abortion. Writing in this paper, Baroness O’Loan said the SDLP “can no longer be accurately described as a pro-life party” given the way its representatives voted on abortion-related bills in the…
A hospital deal that leaves no-one happy
The current deal between the State and St Vincent’s for the National Maternity Hospital pleases no-one, writes Ruadhán Jones The Religious Sisters of Charity acted with the best of intentions when they offered a site worth €200 million for free to facilitate a new maternity hospital. However, from the word go this deal proved controversial,…