The Iona Institute NI has welcomed a Bill from the DUP which would outlaw abortions on babies with disabilities such as Down Syndrome
Iona Institute NI welcomes Bill to tackle ‘chilling’ abortion disability discrimination
Ruadhán Jones
For Lent, ask if one’s life is centred on God or oneself, Pope says
Lent is a time to reconsider the path one is taking in life and to finally answer God’s invitation to return to him with one’s whole heart, Pope Francis said.
We must let politicians know that worship is ‘utterly essential’, says Bishop McGuckian
The Bishop of Raphoe said he “longs for churches to be open for Mass” and expressed his frustration that worship is not treated as an essential service in his pastoral message for Lent
Prioritise vaccination of priests as essential workers, says senator
Senator Ronán Mullen has said it is “critical” priests “should be prioritised as essential workers” for vaccination by Government, especially for their work ministering to the grieving. Commenting on priests’ work in caring for the grieving, Senator RonánMullen told The Irish Catholic that it is critical priest’s health is prioritised. “It is critical that their…
Anger as NI Health minister reveals 1,100 abortions in 2020
The director of Precious Life called the leaders of the North Assembly “hypocrites” after the Minister for Health revealed that 1091 abortions took place in 2020 following the introduction of legal abortion on 31 March 2020. Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life, told The Irish Catholic that she is “angry” at the government’s ”hypocrisy” in…
Independent Catholic school hopes to teach ‘beauty, truth and goodness’
The Mater Dei Academy, a new independent Catholic secondary school in Cork, hopes to form faith-filled Catholics through their Classical education model. The school is a lay led initiative, facilitated by the Dominican community in Cork, which opened in September 2020. Co-founder Padraig Cantillon told The Irish Catholic the school is “proud” of their “unique”…
Limerick community feel ‘betrayed’ by Green party, says priest
The community of Moyross feel “betrayed” by the Green party’s act of “bad faith” over the proposed construction of a new road, says Moyross PP Fr Pat Hogan. The priest’s comments come as pressure mounts on Green Party leader Eamon Ryan over his failure to progress a link road between Coonagh and Knockalisheen at Moyross,…
2,700 healthcare professionals sign open letter opposing euthanasia
More than 2,700 healthcare professionals have signed an open letter stating that they are “gravely concerned” about the attempt to introduce assisted suicide in Ireland. Opponents of the bill, including the majority of geriatricians, argue that it stigmatises the elderly, sick and disabled. The letter came as submissions close for the second stage of the…
An epidemic of unprocessed grief?
Many are struggling to process their grief without the rituals of death, writes Ruadhán Jones The funeral is a ubiquitous ritual in Irish society, envisioned in popular culture as a social gathering and a celebration of the deceased’s life. But under the conditions of a pandemic, we have come to recognise its primary importance as…
A life on the missions
Personal Profile The Philippines has one of the largest Catholic populations in the world – a country of more than 100 million people, of which 80% are Catholic and 90% are Christian. This is the legacy of missionaries from the 1500s down to today – missionaries such as Fr Donal Bennett of Omagh, who spent…