Paramilitary violence is “torturing” communities in the North due to “complacency” about peace, a senior Belfast youth worker has warned. It is only a “fluke” that 2023 saw no deaths through paramilitary activities, Mr Stephen Hughes added, responding to figures from the PSNI. Up until 2022, paramilitary violence “was a declining issue”, he told The…
Three quarters of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland are not registering at the point of arrival into the country, figures released by the Government show. Of the almost 9,000 migrants seeking international protection who arrived in Ireland in 2023, just 2,056 registered at airports and ports, figures released to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín revealed. The…
The Church in Ireland needs a whole “mindset shift” over lay ministry, as dioceses and parishes seek to embed a synodal approach to local leadership, a leading theologian has said. Irish dioceses have a “brilliant opportunity” to initiate a more “inclusive” model of leadership, according to the Dean of Theology at St Patrick’s Pontifical University,…
Graiguecullen’s parish church was packed for the feast of Jesus’ Baptism, as children baptised in 2023 received a blessing from Fr John Dunphy PP. The blessing was given to the babies and their parents as they continue their faith journey together. The parish’s baptismal ministers gifted each family with a prayer card, a little bottle…
Parents in the North have overwhelmingly rejected a Westminster law that would force Catholic schools to teach about accessing abortions, a consultation has shown. However, the department of education said its hands are tied and it will be releasing guidance on teaching access to abortion this month. In response to a department of education consultation…
Cork-born Bishop of Los Angeles David O’Connell was one of the 20 Catholic missionaries killed in 2023, according to the annual report from Vatican agency Fides. Those killed while in the service of the Church include one bishop, eight priests, two men religious, one seminarian, one novice and seven laypeople. Known as ‘the Peacemaker’, Bishop…
Whatever its critics may say, the Church in Ireland has embraced Pope Francis’ call to reach to the peripheries and Ireland is better for it. For instance, the Church is a constant voice for migrants and the homeless, with Archbishop Dermot Farrell recently offering a stirring defence of the right of asylum seekers and refugees…
The Master of the Rotunda hospital has admitted he “can’t remember” the last time a pro-life protest took place outside the Dublin hospital. Prof. Seán Daly made the remarks when asked about the abortion zones legislation set to make pro-life protest illegal within 100 metres of facilities providing abortion. His comments appear to be at…
Failure of Catholic college’s dialogue process raises serious questions, writes Ruadhán Jones While most institutions were winding down over Christmas, teachers and staff at Mary Immaculate Catholic college received a bombshell announcement about MIC’s “historic” dialogue with University of Limerick (UL). In an email sent December 19, MIC President Eugene Wall admitted that after almost…
College chaplaincies have seen “rapid growth” since Covid as young people are “hungry” for faith, college chaplains have said. Growth of college chaplaincies has been “exponential” on campuses across the island of Ireland, with many seeing thousands of students coming through their doors each week, chaplains told The Irish Catholic. While Census 2022 highlighted that…