Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín has said the family at the centre of the Holles Street abortion case feel they’re not being “treated fairly” and that the government is ignoring the issue. After speaking to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar under Dáil privilege last week concerning a couple who opted for an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital…
Category: Irish News
Bishops defend how RSE is taught in Catholic schools
The bishops have rejected claims that Catholic schools do not teach about facts in Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) classes. In their latest quarterly statement, the hierarchy responded to criticisms of the way RSE is taught in their schools. Health Minister, Simon Harris, said in a recent Tweet that RSE “must always be based on…
Boston-style Church archives could preserve Irish records
A religious archives repository along the lines of one newly established at Boston College in the US would be “a really good idea” for the Irish Church, Dublin’s diocesan archivist has said. “I think it’s a really good idea,” Noelle Dowling told The Irish Catholic. “I think instead of people trying to invest in archives…
Pro-life student gets death threat after Irish Times article
An outspoken pro-life advocate is encouraging others with the same convictions to not be “silenced” in the face of intimidation or bullying. 21-year-old student Gavin Boyne is urging the pro-life community to be resilient in the face of criticism after he received online abuse and a death threat for sharing his views. “I’m a little…
SMA misses out on major United Nations prize
The Society for African Missions were “shocked” to be shortlisted by the UN for their work to tackle desertification in the Sahel region. Fr Maurice Henry said it was great for the order “to be recognised” beside organisations with massive resources aiming to mitigate the climate crisis. They were shortlisted along with eight others, but…
Poorest can’t pay price for climate change action – SVP
Any levies or taxes introduced by the Government to mitigate carbon emissions should not impact those living in poverty, the President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in Ireland has said. “The vast majority of the people that we visit rely on fossil fuels to heat their homes,” Kieran Stafford told The…
Charity welcomes acquittal of human trafficking victim
A Christian charity in Northern Ireland has welcomed the decision to clear a Vietnamese man of all criminal charges on account of him being a victim of human trafficking. Hung Van Nguyen (43), who had been living in Co. Tyrone, became the first person to be exonerated under NI’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice…
SMA shortlisted by UN for decades of ‘tireless work’
The Society of African Missionaries (SMA) is en route to receiving a major UN award for their efforts to tackle desertification. Fr Maurice Henry, a member of the SMA’s Council for the Province of Ireland, was informed this week that his order were shortlisted for the 2019 ‘Land for Life Award’. The UNCCD (UN Convention…
Bishop joins Capuchins in apology for homily
Ossory’s Bishop Dermot Farrell has said he was “saddened” to hear of “inappropriate language and sentiments” in a homily preached in Kilkenny’s Capuchin friary over the weekend. Onetime UCC chaplain Fr Tom Forde had spoken on Saturday about “the abuse of drugs and alcohol, adultery, fornication and homosexuality, as well as in the acceptance of…
Vatican green light sought for GAA-Church land deal
Clonliffe site may attract large bids A Dublin land sale is on the brink of finalisation as the GAA and the Archdiocese of Dublin await Vatican approval for the lucrative deal. The sale of more than 19 acres of land at Clonliffe College, Drumcondra, the site of Holy Cross Seminary, is at a critical stage…