Churches should focus on synodality and not issues that require changes in doctrine as the three-week October synod is not enough time for “in depth theological reflection”. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops told The Irish Catholic communication was “not at its best” regarding the synod, during his visit to Ireland,…

Irish bishops have delayed deciding on the future of artwork in Rome’s Pontifical Irish College by a controversial priest accused of abusing several adult women. Slovenian artist and priest Fr Marko Rupnik has faced a myriad of accusations of serious sexual and spiritual abuse of at least 20 women since 2018. He was expelled from…

The Irish Jesuits are to hand back Gardiner Street Parish to Dublin diocese after 50 years ministering to Dublin’s north inner city, the order announced Monday. While St Francis Xavier church will remain attached to the Jesuits, it will cease to be a parish church from August 1 this year, becoming part of the neighbouring…

Michael Kelly in Buenos Aires An Argentinian priest who works with the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people is hopeful that Pope Francis will visit the community during a proposed trip to the Pontiff’s homeland later this year. Fr Pedro Cannavó, who was ordained by the then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio over 15 years ago, is…

The Church can’t downplay the centrality of the priesthood to the life of the Church because of not wanting to “offend sensitivities”, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan said at the close of the Year for Vocation. The charism of the priesthood has been an essential in the makeup of the Church since the beginning, the head of…

Homelessness charities believe human trafficking is becoming “more prevalent” and they are coming in contact with more victims, according to a new report from Christian NGO Depaul. Depaul published An Overview of Homelessness and Human Trafficking in Dublin in conjunction with UK-based charity The Passage on Monday. The report found most homelessness charities believe they…

Speaking in the Church of St Joseph the Artisan in Bonnybrook, Dublin on Sunday, Archbishop of Dublin Dr Dermot Farrell commended the families of the deceased victims of the Stardust nightclub tragedy for their “endurance and tenacity” in their unrelenting pursuit of the truth, even though, according to him, they were “systematically and stubbornly denied…

A mural in honour of an Irish priest who saved thousands of Jewish people during World War II has been vandalised with Hitler references in Tralee. Kerry artist May Leen who painted the mural of Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty in 2015 said the priest’s family “don’t deserve to see this”. “To see this war hero, and…

Deputy Leader of Aontú Gemma Brolly has criticised the recently passed Alliance Party motion which seeks to enforce “compulsory, standardised, inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based and age appropriate” RSE teaching into classrooms. Ms Brolly has described some of the language used in the motion as “misleading”. The motion was passed on Monday by a margin of 49…

EXCLUSIVE Dublin airport has done a one-eighty on banning the blessing of planes in news that has “delighted” the chaplain. Last week the airport announced that due to “changes in security protocols” the tradition of blessing planes ‘airside’ would be stopped, causing considerable backlash. However, Fr Des Doyle of Dublin Airport Church, Our Lady Queen…