Lidl’s move to offer paid, compassionate leave for employees who’ve suffered a miscarriage, either directly or indirectly, has been welcomed as a “real example”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Niamh Uí Bhriain of The Life Institute said it’s “great news, and fair play to Lidl”. “Miscarriage is a terrible loss and a real source…
Senator Ronan Mullen has dismissed a reply from the Department of Health as “a pretty pathetic response” after he asked the Minister for Health to clarify the State’s legal position on public worship. Almost two months after asking the question, Mr Mullen was told in the letter that the matters he raised are subject of…
A Catholic priest’s oratory in Scotland has reached the finals of this year’s ‘Shed of the Year’ competition. Fr Len Black from Inverness battled 331 entrants to reach the final of the Cuprinol Shed of the Year. The competition is in its 15th year, with the number of entrants doubling this year compared to 2020.…
An Irishwoman’s cause for canonisation has been opened by an order she founded in Texas. The cause for Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy of Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, is being forwarded by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate. A post on the order’s website May 20 revealed that the process of seeking Mother…
As Masses return to military barracks around the country, Fr Seamus Madigan has praised the dedication and hard work of military chaplains during the pandemic. His comments come as attendance of in-person worship restarted fully in military settings across the country, following a short delay in reopening churches in them. Fr Madigan, the head chaplain…
President Higgins has cautioned against new forms of intolerance in an address at the Young Philosopher Awards 2021. Mr Higgins said that “replacing” old forms of intolerance with new ones does not signify “the creation of a progressive or more open, broadminded or democratic society”. Philosophy can lead to “wisdom and respect,” and an understanding…
Famous Irish rock ‘n roll guitarist Rory Gallagher was “a practising Catholic all his life” and attended Mass regularly at Brompton Oratory in London, his biographer said recently. Speaking on the Brendan O’Connor Show June 6, Julian Vignoles – author of Rory Gallagher, The Man Behind the Guitar – said that Gallagher placed great importance on…
A date has been fixed for the pro-life organisation’s challenge to the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 which empower NI Secretary Brandon Lewis to direct Stormont ministers to implement a “fully-funded abortion service” over the heads of Stormont MLAs. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) announced the challenge, which they are funding,…
A Minecraft user has taken the time to construct a Corpus Christi procession in the much-loved videogame. The procession was replete with a monstrance and the Eucharist being borne by a priest beneath a processional canopy, and was accompanied by a large crowd. Minecraft has found much favour among gaming-Catholics over the years as they’ve…
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising has submitted his resignation to Pope Francis, saying that bishops must begin to accept responsibility for the institutional failures of the church in handling the clerical sexual abuse crisis. Cardinal Marx (67) released a statement on Friday and, with the Pope’s permission, a copy of the letter…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones