The country’s largest diocese has received an almost €10 million payout from insurance companies to cover money lost due to Covid-19 church closures when collections could not be taken up. The Archdiocese of Dublin’s financial reports for 2021 show that it received €9.4 million as compensation for losses under the business interruption clause of its…
The failure to form an Executive in the North and a lack of political leadership is leaving space for paramilitaries, Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry has warned. He said any decision regarding another Stormont election, set to take place after Christmas, must be taken with a focus on the “common good”. “I think we have…
An Irish theologian has called on Bishop Ray Browne to publicly correct an “egregiously wrong” statement the prelate made about a controversial homily in Listowel, Co. Kerry. Dr Tom Finegan of Mary Immaculate College in Thurles claimed that the bishop’s assertion that the controversial views expressed by Fr Seán Sheehy “do not represent the Christian…
Organisers of a letter from over 500 young Catholics challenging the synod on a perceived desire among young people for liberal reform have been invited to a meeting with the synodal steering committee, The Irish Catholic newspaper understands. The letter, which went viral online after being picked up by Catholic news agencies internationally, was due…
St Macartan’s Church in Augher, Co. Tyrone, has scooped the top prize in the UK’s ‘Church of the Year’ competition for 2022. St Macartan’s, also known as The Forth Chapel, is located in the Clogher Valley, dates from 1838 – 1846 and was once the cathedral of the diocese of Clogher. Speaking to The Irish…
Staff Reporter Plans to reform hate crime laws have sparked widespread opposition, with more than 3,600 submissions from the public, elected representatives, political parties and academics received by Government. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Laois-Offaly Independent Carol Nolan TD said that there are “serious concerns” around the laws. “In particular I am worried about…
Housing charity the Peter McVerry Trust had 680 active ‘housing first’ tenancies across 14 local authorities by the end of last year. The charity published its annual report on Tuesday and announced it worked with more than 10,000 people in 2021, an increase of almost 30% on the previous year. The charity, which is now active…
The embattled Lord Mayor of Dublin has insisted that it was always her intention to keep the traditional nativity scene outside Mansion House, minus the animals. Addressing her fellow councillors on Monday, Mayor Caroline Conroy said she wanted to deal with “one misunderstanding” that had arisen through “erroneous” reporting in the media. “There will be…
Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy has said the reality of the Creeslough tragedy is becoming more apparent as the “numbness and shock” begins to ease, following the first month’s mind. A month on from the devastating explosion which killed 10 people in the small Donegal community, Fr Duffy said he experienced comfort from counselling…
Overseas development charity Trócaire has said the Taoiseach is “relabelling” old funding aimed at easing the impact of climate change on poorer countries at the UN climate change conference, COP27 in Egypt. Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced to the conference on Tuesday that Ireland will contribute €10 million to the Global Shield initiative for 2023, “to protect the most…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady