Exclusive Radical plan will see Masses cut by 1/3 Unveiling a new plan that will see Masses cut in a bid to enliven congregations and enhance liturgy, Bishop Dermot Farrell has said that the vocations crisis is really a crisis of faith that will not be solved by making celibacy optional. Speaking exclusively to The…
The women’s confraternity at Clonard Monastery in west Belfast is to close after more than 120 years. The 122-year-old Belfast association, which drew thousands of members when it was set up in July 1897, will meet for the final time on November 24 with a closing Mass. Fr Peter Burns, Rector of Clonard, said the…
The Bolivian bishops have urged an end to the vandalism that has taken place following the resignation of president Evo Morales on Sunday. Supporters of Morales have clashed with police in several cities. In a November 10 message, the bishops’ conference, along with several civic groups, encouraged “Bolivians to peace and to not commit acts…
Nearly three quarters of Catholics in the US are not opposed to couples cohabiting before marriage, despite the Church’s moral teaching. A new survey by the Pew Research Centre reports that Americans as a whole are very accepting of unmarried couples living together, even if they have no plans to marry. Additionally, Pew found that…
Moves to produce hate crime legislation have been likened to new “secular blasphemy laws”, which threaten freedom of speech, according to a Tipperary TD. Mattie McGrath spoke to The Irish Catholic after he made comments criticising legislation regarding hate speech in the Dáil last week. During a debate on Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related…
One of Brazil’s most traditional samba schools – the popular associations that organise annual Carnival parades in the country – announced that the theme of its 2020 performance would be the story of Jesus taken to a Rio de Janeiro slum. Estacao Primeira de Mangueira also announced its performance song, which alludes to the increasing…
Three fourths of Facebook readers say they would oppose moves to open up the diaconate to women. While Pope Francis is reportedly considering the idea of allowing women to become permanent deacons only 25% of readers in a poll on the IC Facebook page said they would agree. Permanent male deacons are now a feature…
Catholic bishops from the European Union marked 30 years since the breaching of the Berlin Wall with tributes to those who worked for peaceful change, as well as warnings against resurgent “ideologies behind the building of walls”. “The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of the most important events in European history of the…
Boris Johnson has shown “contempt” for the people of Northern Ireland after pledging to protect British veterans from prosecution, according to a priest based in Fermanagh. Under the proposals the Conservative party would amend the Human Rights Act so that it wouldn’t apply to issues such as killings during the Troubles. This was announced on…
Landlords are “destroying” prospects for young people who are hoping to get married but can barely afford rent, according to the founder of the Capuchin Day Centre. With the World Day of the Poor on Sunday, established by Pope Francis three years ago, Bro. Kevin said the situation for the poor in Ireland “is appalling”…
Chai Brady