The deaths of the elderly and vulnerable in the first lockdown was “hugely distressing”, said Bishop Michael Router, Chair of the Council for Healthcare of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. As such, nursing homes should be prioritised and the elderly need more support from the Government, he continued. Bishop Router also called on people to…
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin Diocese called on the HSE to urgently provide the “quality of care” residents of a Galway nursing are entitled to, after a virus outbreak was discovered
Independent senators Rónán Mullen and Lynn Ruane clashed over “present hypocricies” and a lack of honesty during Seanad debates over the Mother and Baby Homes Commission Bill. The argument arose when Senator Mullen said politicians were “running with the pack” in condemning the past, rather than looking for “nuance”. Lynne Ruane shot back that Mr…
As Catholics, we have a responsibility to vaccinate, writes Ruadhán Jones The question of vaccination comes up around this time every year, but never before with such force. We are all awaiting the results of the various tests underway for a vaccine for Covid-19 with bated breath. Some 240 vaccines are in early development, with…
Ruadhán Jones shares ideas for celebrating the unofficial triduum of Hallowe’en, All Saints and All Souls Hallowe’en as it is celebrated today comprises a mishmash of different cultural traditions, some pagan – mostly Celtic – and some Christian. Even the origins of the celebration are somewhat controversial, with Neo-paganists attempting to ‘reclaim’ it from its…
Shoppers in one of the largest supermarkets in Ballymena, Co. Antrim were stunned when the words “F*** the Pope” were announced over the tannoy. It is understood that a member of the public, a male youth, gained access to an unattended speaker at a Tesco store and shouted out the sectarian slur. According to a…
A Catholic priest and a Church of Ireland minister have joined forces in East Galway for a daily 3km prayer run for their parishes’ spiritual and financial wellbeing. Fr Gerard Geraghty of Aughrim and Kilconnell and Rev. John Godfrey of Aughrim and Creagh have committed to running every day while churches are closed. “John came…
Italian teenager Carlo Acutis is “a model of evangelisation and discipleship in the 21st Century”, according to Sacred Heart Missionary Fr Alan Neville. Potentially the first saint with a website and to wear Nikes, Blessed Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis last weekend in Assisi. Fr Neville, formerly the vocation director for the MSC said…
New recommendations to remove Catholic symbols from state run secondary schools will impose “a secular understanding of religion on the school”, says Fr Eamonn Conway. According to The Irish Times, an unpublished document recommends phasing out Catholic symbols, compulsory graduation Masses and diocesan inspectors of religious teaching. Commenting on the report, Fr Conway said that…
Aontú representative Becky Kealy delivered a letter of support to the bishops of Cork and Ross, and Cloyne, saying that “young people want Mass back”. Ms Kealy said she delivered the letter after a group of young, practising Catholics contacted her to ask if she would submit a letter on their behalf. “They wanted to…