The sacred liturgy is meant to help the people of God conform their heart, mind and actions more closely to Christ, Pope Francis said. “We know that it is not enough to change liturgical books to improve the quality of the liturgy. To just do this would be a deception,” he said. “For life to…
Pope Francis has named Irishman Cardinal Kevin Farrell to a senior Vatican role that will see the Dublin native take on a key role between the death or retirement of the Pontiff and the election of his successor. In a communique this morning, the Holy See Press Office announced that Francis had appointed Dr Farrell…
Cindy Wooden Pope Francis has signed a decree recognising a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman, the English cardinal, clearing the way for his canonisation. The Vatican announced on February 13 that Pope Francis had signed the decree the day before. In the sainthood cause of Blessed Newman, Bishop Philip…
New bishop in appeal The Church in Ireland must do more to reach out to Catholics who feel themselves on the margins and recognise that God is still present in families where the parents are not married, Ireland’s newest bishop has said. Speaking after his ordination in Monaghan’s St Macartan’s Cathedral on Sunday, Bishop…
A major Vatican conference on atheism could help stem the tide of people leaving the Church, a leading Catholic number-cruncher has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of the Vatican’s first conference on atheism in 50 years, Prof. Stephen Bullivant of St Mary’s University in Twickenham, London, said the Church has long realised that…
A Fianna Fáil TD has refused to answer questions on whether or not he raised the issue of Christian persecution in Iran when he met the country’s ambassador last week. Niall Collins, who is the party’s frontbench spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, met with Masoud Eslami in Dublin for what he described as discussing…
There’s been a dramatic decrease in marriage counselling sessions provided by a Catholic agency, with the number of sessions halving in some areas according to new figures. Accord, who provide marriage preparation and counselling services, revealed their 2018 figures this week which show a decrease from 38,881 counselling sessions delivered in 2014 to 24,180 last…
A Christian business which refused to print civil partnership ceremony invitations to a gay man has said other groups have been targeting the business because of their decision. Drogheda-based company Beulah Print and Design were ordered to pay €2,500 after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found it had discriminated against a man on the grounds…
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone has criticised what she described as sensationalised’ headlines and media reports about the Tuam Mother & Baby Home. Ms Zappone was speaking during a Seanad debate on the issue. She was pressed on the issue by Independent NUI Senator Rónán Mullen who expressed concern on behalf of…
While many Hollywood celebrities are known for having liberal sexual lifestyles, popstar Justin Bieber has revealed that he remained celibate for a year prior to his 2018 marriage with model Hailey Baldwin, for religious reasons. Speaking with Vogue about his relationship with his now-wife, Bieber confessed to giving up sex for a year, and admitted…
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Michael Kelly