The Church in Ireland is in serious need of radical restructuring, the country’s newest bishop has warned. Paying tribute to the heroic work of priests, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell also insisted that more focus needs to be put on encouraging young men in parishes to consider a vocation to the priesthood. “Obviously,…
The possible ordination of women as deacons and the admission of married men to the priesthood will be key themes during a month-long synod gathering in Rome in October, the Vatican revealed this week. The preparatory document, known in Latin as an instrumentum laboris, brings together a number of themes and concerns that have emerged during…
Amendments to the Minister of Religion visa scheme that address criticisms have been warmly welcomed by missionary bodies and congregations that often bring religious overseas to Ireland as part of their work. This paper previously reported that religious and missionary bodies involved in negotiations with the Department of Justice were dissatisfied with the scheme, and…
Organisers of the Rally for Life, scheduled for Dublin next week, have called on TDs to listen to growing public concern from voters about a push to scrap the three-day wait before abortion. The three-day period of reflection was described by pro-life doctors last year as giving women “time to think”. Data released to Carol Nolan TD…
The lead chaplain for prisons in the North of Ireland has said they have found no grounds for a report that Catholic prisoners are experiencing prejudice from members of staff in a Co. Antrim prison. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the lead chaplain to the Northern Ireland Prison Service Fr Stephen McBrearty said that in…
The Irish mother of Nottingham attack victim, 19-year-old student Grace O’Malley-Kumar, has appealed for prayers for her daughter and for people not to harbour hate in their hearts during an emotional tribute to her daughter. Addressing the crowd at a vigil in Nottingham’s Market Square, Dublin-born Dr Sinéad O’Malley asked those gathered to “say prayers…
The Ukrainian Catholic community is hoping and praying for peace and justice amid the long-awaited spring counteroffensive in the ongoing war according to the chaplain to Ukrainians in Ireland, Fr Vasyl Kornitsky. “We still pray for hope, for peace in Ukraine,” Fr Kornitsky told The Irish Catholic. “What I noticed recently is that people are…
There has been a considerable increase in the cost of maintaining a basic living across all household types, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul. In a new report, SVP says the cost of what is known as a Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) has revealed a significant increase in the twelve…
Irish bishops have warned that “extremist views” causing fear and racism towards refugees undermine Ireland’s culture of welcome, and the State should dialogue with local communities. In a statement on World Refugee Day, June 19, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference encouraged parishes and churches to continue the “great efforts to support our new residents with…
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that while in his view abortion is “sometimes necessary,” it is “not a good thing” and would like to see fewer abortions take place in Ireland. In a recent interview with The Irish Times, Mr Varadkar was asked about the independent review of the State’s abortion law, which recommended a…
Chai Brady