EXCLUSIVE The Government has now insisted that it is an offence punishable by the law for a priest to celebrate public Mass, despite months of assurances that there is no penalty attached. This stance appears to be at odds with a statement to the Dáil by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in October dismissing concerns around…
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has insisted that he believes gay couples who ask God for a blessing “will not be denied.” He was speaking after the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement – approved by Pope Francis – reiterating the Church’s ban on priests blessing same-sex unions. The decree said…
The Church in Dublin has decided to hand over management of a Catholic Irish language school to another patron body after ensuring that religious education will continue under the new multi-denominational ethos. Archbishop Dermot Farrell hailed the transfer of patronage of Scoil Chaitlín Maude from the Archdiocese of Dublin to An Foras Pátrúnachta as “a…
Pleas from TDs for a return to public worship for Holy Week were shot down in the Dáil last night (Thursday) as the Government insisted that it would not entertain discussion on the issue until Easter Monday, April 5 at the earliest. Rural Independent deputies Mattie McGrath, Carol Nolan, Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue made…
Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne Schools are frustrated by the lack of access to timely advice, according to the acting director of a Catholic schools’ body, as the Government has failed to offer the promised 24-hour support principals need. “Schools can only remain open to in-school teaching if the correct supports and sufficient…
There is “cautious optimism” and delight as Catholics return to public Mass in the North this week. The return in time for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter has been described as “great news” as people were at “the end of their tether”. Catholic activist Tracey Harkin told this paper: “I think the feeling…
Politicians have dubbed the fining of a priest for holding public Mass “disgraceful” and grossly unfair. This newspaper revealed at the weekend that Co. Cavan-based Fr PJ Hughes had been slapped with a €500 fine by gardaí after he left the doors of the church open so parishioners could feel free to attend Mass. This…
“It’s not pastoral care” to bless the relationships of same-sex couples, says Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, following backlash over a Vatican document on the blessing of same-sex unions. The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith’s (CDF) recent document which ruled that the Church cannot bless same-sex unions sparked controversy, as priests and bishops in…
The Irish state has been given two weeks to clarify whether, in fact, there is a law against Masses being said in public. The instruction was made on Tuesday March 23 by Judge Charles Meenan, as part of the constitutional case being taken by businessman Declan Ganley, according to Gript.ie. Mr Ganley’s lawyers used a…
The northern bishops have accused the British government of showing a “reckless disregard” for the region’s cross-community power-sharing government over plans to impose abortion legislation. The Westminster government has announced that it is to give the Secretary of State new powers to compel the locally-elected parliament to implement abortion laws. In March 2020, when the…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones