The Knights of Columbanus celebrated the centenary anniversary of its founder Canon James O’Neill on May 6 and 7 in Ballycastle. The gathering was well attended, with a number of talks from eminent speakers including historian Dr Éamon Phoenix, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Bishop Noel Treanor, Fr Eddie McGee and Mickey Harte. Fr McGee recounted the…
Exclusive A number of Irish bishops have engaged in a listening process with gay and lesbian Catholics as part of the synodal process, The Irish Catholic can reveal. It follows commitments from the organisers of the Irish synod – which aims to hear from diverse voices about the future direction of the Church – that what they…
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has said there is “no doubt” that many committed nationalist voters didn’t vote for the SDLP because of their position on abortion. Writing in this paper, Baroness O’Loan said the SDLP “can no longer be accurately described as a pro-life party” given the way its representatives voted on abortion-related bills in the…
Aontú candidates have praised their party’s performance in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, saying that there’s a “good, solid base” to work with going forward. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, East Derry candidate Gemma Brolly said that the party “dived in at the deep end” and that the public supported their efforts. “Our performance…
A study that purported to show that non-religious teachers are hiding their beliefs out of fear it could affect their job prospects in schools with a religious ethos has been condemned as providing “no basis for advocating change to policy or to law” by a Catholic educationalist. Leading theologian and professor at Mary Immaculate College,…
The European Parliament May 3 adopted a report on the persecution of religious minorities that has been denounced as “openly hostile towards religion” by human rights experts. Second-class rights The report, Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion, was criticised by the Catholic Church, with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of…
Staff reporter Tweeting May 4, pop music superstar Madonna asked Pope Francis if they could meet and discuss “important matters”. The famous singer took to Twitter to ask the Pope for an audience, writing: “Hello @Pontifex Francis —I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear! Its been a few decades since my…
Staff reporter A recent peer-reviewed study has debunked claims that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS) leads to fewer non-assisted suicides. Director of the UK’s Anscombe Bioethics Centre David Jones said that their study, Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, and Suicide Rates in Europe, has shown that current European data reveals a “consistent association” with increased suicide…
Speaking on Vocations Sunday, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan warned that “screaming” voices in the media can draw us away from God. Bishop Cullinan, chairman of the council for vocations in the Irish bishops’ conference, said that “the only voice that really matters, is the voice of God” in his homily during Mass for vocations Sunday, May…
An Irish inter-faith gathering has said EU governments should recognise the unique role churches and faith communities play in maintaining “the soul of Europe”. The comments come in a report submitted to the Conference on the Future of Europe, based on a meeting between Irish churches and faith communities in Dublin City University. Participant The…
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly