While many were relieved that the Oireachtas Committee on Justice scrapped the Dying with Dignity Bill, a prominent medical ethicist has warned another effort will come soon. The Committee said in a July 21 statement that the Bill, introduced by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, “has serious technical issues in several sections”. It “reluctantly”…
The Stormont Executive has decided that it will no longer be mandatory to wear masks in places of worship, however some parishes are expected to keep the rule for now. Ministers announced this week that it would no longer be obligatory to wear masks during Mass and other liturgies, but would instead be guidance. The…
The Northern Catholic bishops have said Westminster’s direction for the North of Ireland to establish full abortion services is “gravely disquieting”. They said it is the latest in “a line of decisions by the current Westminster government which we believe threaten the fragile balance of relationships at the heart of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement”.…
St Declan’s Way became Ireland’s longest pilgrim path after receiving recognition from Sport Ireland, with Irish Pilgrim Path’s founder comparing it to the famous Camino de Santiago. More than 200 people embarked on the 115km trail, which begins in Cashel and ends in Armdore, Co. Waterford, July 24, which John G O’Dwyer said is a…
Ballintubber Abbey is set to receive €350,000 from the National Monuments Service for reconstruction and renovation of the 800-year-old church. Green Party TD Malcolm Noonan announced the contribution while visiting the Mayo abbey, where Mass has been celebrated for more than 800 years, July 22. He was “delighted” to announce the funding, as “the local…
Bishop Brendan Leahy has described former minister Des O’Malley as a man of “courage and decency”. The former leader of the Progressive Democrats was laid to rest following requiem Mass in Dublin on Friday. He represented Limerick in the Dáil for many years and served in numerous ministries, including the Department of Justice. On hearing…
Fr Charlie McDonnell praised the “support and cooperation” of priests and pilgrims in making the extended Reek Pilgrimage season a success. Traditionally, the last Sunday of the month – called Reek Sunday – was dedicated to making pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been going ahead this year in an…
Church leaders have warned that unilateral moves by the British government to force the North’s Department of Health to introduce abortion services threaten the region’s peace process. Britain’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis last week ordered the locally-elected government to make full abortion services available no later than March 31 next year.…
Traditionalist communities ‘shocked’ at new measures Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady Pope Francis’ new restrictions on the celebration of the Latin Mass have “shocked” some Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) communities, but others warn the Church faced “the peril of division” if the Pope hadn’t intervened. Fr Liam Tracey, professor of Liturgy at Maynooth University told The…
Sacred Heart College Omagh wished runner Eilish Flanagan all the best, as she represents Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics starting July 23. Ms Flanagan studied at the Tyrone secondary school for seven years, winning a range of competitions, before taking up a scholarship in athletics in Adams State University in Colorado. She was selected to…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly