Category: Irish News

Pro-lifers target SDLP over abortion move

Pro-life voters in the North are targeting the SDLP for the party’s refusal to intervene over Westminster’s imposition of abortion on the region. As part of their ‘Fight Back’ campaign Precious Life held protests outside the constituency offices of SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Mark H Durkin. Organisers say the protests are in response to…

Armagh to mark ‘Red Wednesday’

Catholics are being urged to mark the Aid to the Church in Need ‘week of witness’ by praying for those persecuted for their faith. Wednesday, November 27 – known as Red Wednesday – will see many churches and other buildings illuminated in red to recall Christian martyrs and those who have died for their faith.…

Economist backs bishop on supporting home-grown business

Ireland is relying too heavily on foreign businesses rather than supporting Irish companies according to a prominent economist and bishop, after hundreds of jobs were lost after a Cork company closed. Formerly of UCD, economist Prof. Ray Kinsella told The Irish Catholic that multinational companies will go where the benefits are greatest and costs are…

Homelessness worsens ‘by every measure’ says MQI

Ireland’s homeless crisis continues to worsen as Merchant’s Quay Ireland (MQI) has revealed new annual figures showing a 9% increase people accessing their services last year. MQI’s 2018 annual review saw a record number of 11,301 service users. Over 2,000 people availed of the charity’s emergency shelter and they provided 102,658 meals to the homeless…

Fine 
Gael 
blocks
 move
 to
help
 refugees

Fine Gael MEPs have voted against a resolution to step up search and rescue for refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. The European Parliament rejected the vote asking member states to step up efforts to save asylum seekers making the perilous crossing late last week. All of Fine Gael’s MEPs – Mairead McGuinness, Maria Walsh, Frances…

Programme aims to keep faith in 
the classroom

The greatest benefit of a newly-introduced qualification for teachers is an increased sense of confidence to self-identify as Catholic in the classroom and in the staffroom, according to its first graduates. It comes at a time when many Catholic teachers have been voicing concern that it is becoming difficult to express one’s faith and exercise leadership rooted…

Bringing the missions to Belfast

Paula
 McKeown On Saturday, October 19, Fr Conor McGrath, Missions Delegate for the Diocese of Down and Connor welcomed a group of people passionate about the contribution of Irish missionaries to St Mary’s University College in Belfast for a one-day conference. The conference, organised for the Extraordinary Month of Mission, gave those gathered a rich…

New purpose-built seminary on the cards for Maynooth

Shake-up may see students
leave historic home EXCLUSIVE Radical plans that would see Maynooth seminary leaving the college’s neogothic buildings in favour of a new purpose-built home on the same campus are being considered by the hierarchy, Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has told The Irish Catholic. The proposal is part of a radical shake-up…

Newman scholars challenge Taoiseach’s conscience claim

Scholars of St John Henry Newman have criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for misunderstanding the new saint’s teaching on conscience. Speaking in the Dáil last week, Mr Varadkar rejected Archbishop Eamon Martin’s recent comments that Catholic politicians are obliged to support laws that uphold the dignity of every person from conception to death. The Taoiseach said…