Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that a controversial ban on public worship will be lifted on May 10, meaning Catholics will be free to attend Mass without fear of criminalisation. Worshippers in the Irish Republic have been forbidden to attend Mass for 27 of the last 30 weeks, the Government moving recently to make it…
EXCLUSIVE Theologians criticise Government over-reach Chai Brady and Jason Osborne Archbishop Dermot Farrell has insisted that parishes in Dublin must abandon plans to hold First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies, warning that it may be the autumn before public health rules allow the celebrations to go ahead. In a letter to priests obtained by The…
The bishops have been urged by Catholic businessman Declan Ganley to reopen churches and begin Masses from Saturday in an act of peaceful civil disobedience, as “every other avenue has been tried”. “We have to, we’re not going to get our cases heard in anything like a timely manner,” Mr Ganley told The Irish Catholic.…
A Dublin priest has criticised remarks made by Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe, who said the Church should use the proceeds of a 2019 land sale to build social housing rather than the likes of pastoral initiatives. Fr John Gilligan PP said: “Politicians need to be realistic. It’s easy to throw out these cheap shots…
Fr John Guiney SJ, Director of Irish Jesuit Missions, called for the immediate release on bail of Fr Stan Swamy SJ, who has been incarcerated for more than 200 days awaiting trial. Fr Swamy’s arrest, on the grounds of terrorist activity, is a “shocking abuse of the law”, Fr Guiney told The Irish Catholic. “His…
TDs have rallied around a Tipperary priest who questioned why parishes haven’t received financial support from Government despite their direction to move services online. Fr Michael Toomey PP of Ardfinnan and Newcastle told The Irish Catholic he spent €5,000 setting up webcams to broadcast services to his parishioners in the churches in his parish. He…
Joe Walsh Tours announced its closure on Tuesday, with directors thanking both customers and staff in a statement. Established in 1961 by Bangor-man Joe Walsh, the family owned-and-operated tour provider was famous in Catholic circles for its travel to pilgrimage destinations such as Lourdes and Medjugorje. Commenting on the decision to cease trading, the directors…
The chair of the task force established by Archbishop Dermot Farrell has said there will be an emphasis on pastoral initiatives aimed at “animating parishes”. Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll of Donnybrook parish, chairperson of the ‘Task Force on a Church for the Dublin of Tomorrow’ which comes under the title ‘Building Hope’, said it is “exciting”.…
Bishop Dónal McKeown concluded the weeklong retreat in memory of Sr Clare Crockett by praying for her canonisation, as people tuned in from across the globe. The retreat, organised to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Derry nun’s death in Ecuador, saw an average of 4,800 people tune into the livestream every day. “The amount…
There was “great excitement” among families as 68 schoolchildren received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Clogher over the weekend. The children of Aghalurcher parish in Lisnaskea/Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh, were some of the first to receive the Sacrament in the diocese this year. Fr Jimmy McPhillips PP told The Irish Catholic: “We are…
Michael Kelly
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady