The Church in Ireland’s safeguarding culture and structures have “greatly improved” in the past 10 years, according to a report from the national safeguarding body. “A lot of progress has been made, and plans are in place to advance this further,” the overview report from the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church…
Christians in the birthplace of Christ hope for the return of Irish pilgrims after a plea from a Palestinian bishop to support for the local Christian population. Bethlehem Christians are “still in darkness” due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, but they hope to see pilgrims return soon, local guides and shop owners told The Irish…
MPs in the UK have been urged to acknowledge the “tremendous” Irish Catholic contribution to British life, as immigration debates descend to a “game of fear”. “The Irish Catholic contribution, both to the Catholic Church in England and Wales and to wider British life and community, has been tremendous,” Bishop Paul McAleenan told MPs. The Belfast-born…
Still lack of satisfaction with Church’s response to abuse allegations, writes Ruadhán Jones The quality of the Church in Ireland’s safeguarding structures and culture has “greatly improved” in the last 10 years, according to a report from the national safeguarding body. “A lot of progress has been made, and plans are in place to…
The head of the Catholic Education Partnership has welcomed the dropping of plans for a ‘neutral’ ethics programme at primary level, as a new round of consultation opens. The State previously sought to introduce education about religion and beliefs (ERB), which was supposed to be a neutral approach. “We have long argued this is based…
Two Co. Louth priests were left traumatised when four raiders broke into their house and confronted them with hammers and an axe on Saturday, March 9. The burglary comes less than a month after the parochial house in Athy, Co. Kildare was burnt down in a suspected arson, while the Diocese of Kerry has had…
A former Presentation Brothers student Cillian Murphy scooped the best actor award at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10. His old school’s community were delighted for Mr Murphy, with the principal of Presentation Brothers College Cork saying he “absolutely” expects students to be inspired by the Cork man’s Oscar win. The Cork-born actor received the…
The election of a woman as president of the Pioneers for the first time in the apostolates’ 125-year history has been described as “historic”. The election of Galway-based mother of four, and grandmother of three, Frances Egan, was announced on Mothers’ Day, Sunday, March 10, with Ms Egan stressing the ongoing importance of the Pioneers’…
The Council of Europe’s commission for human rights is ignoring medicine and rights in favour of ideology, the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has said, after the commission called for Ireland and other EU states to remove “harmful barriers” to abortion. It is “ideology versus science and medicine and experience” that motivates such calls, PLC spokesperson…
The Irish bishops’ conference has called for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza, urging Israel and Islamist terrorist organisation Hamas to work for a just peace. “We join with many in our parishes, together with all people of goodwill, in demanding an immediate end to the daily horror of killing, wounding and destruction of…