Minister Josepha Madigan, who ran Fine Gael’s campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment last year and pave the way for abortion here, has said the first thing she did when given the role was to attend a Taizé prayer meeting at her local church. Ms Madigan, a family lawyer by profession, was asked by Leo…
Category: Irish News
Nuns ship ‘life changing’ supplies to disabled in Kenya
After an anonymous donation Irish nuns were able to ship a large number of wheelchairs, standing frames, crutches and more that they had gathered to help children and adults with disabilities in Kenya. The Daughters of Charity (DC) Services in Ireland described the container load of equipment as “life changing” for people with a disability,…
Time-limited backstop wanted as Boris ‘plays hard’ says Nuala O’Loan
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has said she believes the new UK PM Boris Johnson aims to renegotiate a time limit on the Brexit backstop in order to “buy time”. Currently he “is playing hard”, Baroness O’Loan told this paper. Without a time limit “the backstop doesn’t cease to operate until all the member states agree, and…
Clarify SF stance on British law in North – bishop
Elphin’s Bishop Kevin Doran has called on Sinn Féin to clarify its position on attempts in the British parliament to impose abortion law in the North, something the party has previously opposed as an exercise of British authority in the region. Bishop Doran’s comments came after senior figures in Sinn Féin welcomed the proposed liberalisation…
FF would support assisted suicide debate in Citizens’ Assembly
Fianna Fáil has said they are not opposed to referring the issue of assisted suicide to a Citizens’ Assembly for discussion, according to reports. A party spokesperson is quoted in the Medical Independent as saying they “would not oppose” this option. However, when contacted by this paper the party failed to answer a query relating…
‘By this sign shalt thou conquer’
Columbia’s first ever Tour de France winner wrapped up his historic victory on Sunday by making the sign of the cross with his younger brother and again with his mother. Egan Bernal, 22, the youngest cyclist to win the world’s most famous bicycle race in 110 years and the first Latin American to do so…
‘Outrage’ at ‘malicious’ assault on Galway mosque
Bishop Brendan Kelly has dubbed the vandalism of a Galway mosque over the weekend as a “wilful and malicious assault”. The Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora said himself and many of the people of Galway are “dismayed and shocked” at the attack on the Maryam Mosque in Galway city. He said: “An attack on…
Aid agency condemns West Bank home demolitions
Trócaire has condemned the demolition by Israeli authorities of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, describing such demolitions as illegal and driven by a desire to disconnect communities. Responding to reports from the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem that authorities planned to demolish 13 buildings – including at least 14 apartments – last week, the…
Restore women to a ‘position of influence’ in the Church – new bishop
The role of female laity must be “enhanced” so that they are brought into the decision-making process of the Church, Armagh’s new Auxiliary Bishop has said. Speaking ahead of his ordination Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, Dr Michael Router told this newspaper that the majority of worshippers are female, and stressed that the…
Trócaire and Church tackle ‘high mortality’ Ebola crisis in Congo
The Church response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been “amazing” according to a Trócaire worker currently in the country. The Head of Humanitarian Programmes for Ireland’s Church-charity, Noreen Gumbo flew to the DRC after the World Health Organisation announced last week the disease’s spread was an emergency of…