Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne A satirical sketch broadcast by RTÉ accusing God of rape has been dubbed “scurrilous” and “disgraceful” and has provoked thousands of complaints from viewers. The national broadcaster logged almost 5,000 complaints by the time this paper went to print regarding the New Year’s Eve broadcast which depicted a man…
Category: Irish News
Priests call for calm after fatal shooting
Local priests have called for a thorough, transparent investigation and calm among the community following the fatal shooting by gardaí of a 27-year-old man in Clonee, Dublin last week. Fr Mathew Binoy SVD of Mountview and Blakestown Parish told The Irish Catholic there is “a lot of tension in the area” after George Nkencho was…
High Court case over ban on Masses likely in early February
Irish Catholic businessman Declan Ganley received confirmation that the State has until January 22 to deliver their opposition to his constitutional challenge to restrictions on religious worship. Once the High Court receives the State’s opposition they will set a date for the judicial review, which Mr Ganley expects to be in early February. Mr Ganley…
Focus Ireland warns the Government to protect most vulnerable as the country faces a third wave of Covid-19
Figures published by the Department of Housing show the number of people who were homeless in November fell by 253 to 8,484 – compared to 8,737 in the previous month. There was also a drop in the number of children who are homeless to 2,452 – a fall of 190. With the country re-entering Level…
Ireland must address ‘urgent issue’ of Christian persecution on UN Security Council
Michael Kinsella of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said Ireland should highlight the “very pressing and urgent issues surrounding Christian persecution” now that they are on the UN Security Council. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has also spoken up about the need to tackle religious persecution “whenever and wherever it happens”. Their comments come…
‘Hope’ of vaccine muddled by messy rollout
Fr Paddy Byrne has hailed the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine as “hope” yet has offered criticism of the delays in getting the vaccine to the Irish people. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the Abbeyleix priest said he believes getting the vaccine to the population “must be more than a 9-5 job”, and said he…
Health Minister announces critical care expansion
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has announced a strategic multi-year plan to expand adult critical care capacity from 255 beds to 446 beds. Work on the plan has already begun and will see 321 adult critical care beds in place by the end of 2021, compared to 255 at the start of this…
We’ll never reach united Ireland without bringing unionists onboard – Primate
EXCLUSIVE The country’s most senior Churchman has warned that a united Ireland will never be achieved unless nationalists are willing to listen to those who are fearful of the prospect of reunification. In an exclusive interview with The Irish Catholic ahead of the 2021 anniversary of the partition of the island of Ireland, Archbishop Eamon…
Border communities ‘thrilled’ as Brexit deal done
There is “huge relief” after negotiations on the Brexit deal were finalised on Christmas Eve, according to a priest based in a border parish. Fr Oliver O’Reilly PP of of Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, said he was “absolutely thrilled” as the post-Brexit trade agreement aimed at governing the UK and EU’s relationship was finalised last week.…
Having the courage to honestly look at the past and face the future
We cannot run away from the fact that our shared history is contentious and people see things differently, Archbishop Eamon Martin tells Chai Brady “History,” the poet Maya Angelou wrote “despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” The island of Ireland is no stranger to…