An investigation is needed into the Orange Order and Flute Band following the broadcast of a “shockingly offensive” song mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey, according to the leader of Aontú. Peadar Tóibín TD said the tragedy of Ms McAreavey’s murder extended across the whole of Ireland. He said: “It was truly shocking and disturbing…
Despite the challenges, Mass-going Catholics continue to find their parishes life-giving and hugely value the role of their hard-working priests. This is one of the key trends emerging in synodal reports as the 26 dioceses have now forwarded their summaries to Maynooth. Many parishes have been meeting over recent months to look at what brings…
Despite a lack of recognition in the media and in the political sphere, parents are grateful for the work of religious sisters and what they have done for their children, according to the delegation leader of the Jesus and Mary Sisters. Sr Marie O’Halloran RJM told The Irish Catholic that they have received a huge…
We didn’t talk a lot about the British royal family when I was growing up in Dublin – those far-off days were before the era of mass media and talking about royalty wasn’t considered, understandably, a republican virtue. But I do recall, aged six, the occasion when Elizabeth II became Queen of England, in 1952,…
A former Anglican bishop of Rochester who converted to Catholicism late last year has warned against the danger of viewing the synod as a “democratic process”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali said that the Anglican communion has sometimes been “misled” by this kind of thinking and that while consulting laity and…
Marches to raise awareness about “Ireland’s spiralling abortion rate” took place across the country, May 20-22. The Marches for Life, organised by the Pro-Life Campaign, attracted hundreds of pro-lifers in Galway, Cork and Donegal. Speakers at the events warned that pressures are being placed on doctors and nurses to assist in abortions, forcing them to…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady Mass attendance down by two-thirds in some parishes The country’s largest diocese is preparing for what has been described as “radical change” and consolidation of parishes. It comes as statistics reveal a steep decline in Mass attendance – even before the pandemic – with some parishes seeing a drop of…
A new book on the Holy Land aimed at encouraging pilgrims to follow in the footsteps of Christ will be launched in Omagh, Co. Tyrone next week. An Irish Pilgrimage Guide to the Holy Land by Editor of The Irish Catholic Michael Kelly explores a variety of themes, from an in-depth look at the important sites…
Is stealing wrong? I think most of us have been taught that it is, deriving from the Ten Commandments. Theft hurts not only the victim, but the common good, since it diminishes trust in society. But in Britain, Andy Cooke, chief inspector of Her Majesty’s Constabulary, has instructed his officers to ‘go easy’ on those…
San Francisco’s archbishop declared May 20 that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not “to be admitted” to Communion unless and until she publicly repudiates “support for abortion ‘rights’” and goes to confession and receives absolution “for her cooperation in this evil”. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said he decided to make this declaration “after numerous attempts to…
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Ruadhán Jones