Bishops call for return of Mass to Irish prisons Irish bishops have come out in support of prisoners’ “constitutional right” to practice their religion, as communal worship has yet to restart in Irish penal institutions. There is also growing calls for prisoners to be vaccinated sooner so that some of the restrictions on their lives…
Professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler has been singing God’s praises in a podcast recently, describing his “Christ-based” approach to his relationship which sees him practicing abstinence before marriage. He said he wouldn’t have been able to do it before, but now that God has come into his life, he’s excited to see how it plays out.…
An English doctor is under investigation for offering to prescribe abortion pill reversal medication, following an undercover investigation by advocacy group openDemocracy. Dr Eileen Reilly, who works with US-based organisation Heartbeat International to facilitate women attempting to reverse the effects of the abortion pill, is under investigation by the General Medical Council of Britain following…
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called for the release of Indian Jesuit Fr Stan Swami on humanitarian grounds and raised issues regarding the grounds of his detention. Church leaders and politicians around the world have previously called for Fr Swami’s release. The Indian Jesuit is currently in hospital with Covid-like symptoms. Irish Jesuits International…
International Men’s Health Week runs from Monday June 14 through to Sunday June 20 this year, and the idea has been welcomed by the Knights of St Columbanus. The focus this year is on ‘making the connections’, which encourages men to rebuild the relationships that were put on pause due to the pandemic. “Men’s health…
Last year saw a 20% drop in suicides across Ireland, according to the latest statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The new figures show that deaths from suicide and self-harm fell from 421 in 2019 to 340 in 2020. This is despite widespread fears that the pandemic and ensuing restrictions could result in an…
A “perfect storm” of problems awaits families as the pandemic supports and protections are wound down, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has warned. A lack of “joined up thinking” on the removal of the moratorium on energy disconnections and evictions, and the ending of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in the coming months will…
Every day is “remembrance day” in St Agatha’s parish, of the 28 people killed and over 90 injured after four bombs were dropped on Dublin’s North Strand 80 years ago. “The loss of 28 people, it’s just extraordinary,” Fr Brendan Kealy of St Agatha’s told The Irish Catholic. “Every day here is a remembrance day…
Bishops in the Republic have been urged to trust priests in parishes with decisions around holding First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies. It comes after the Department of the Taoiseach sent a circular to the Church hierarchy advising they postpone the ceremonies of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for May and June, to be resumed…
EXCLUSIVE The incoming DUP leader Edwin Poots has refused to say whether or not he would be willing to attend Mass if invited. A spokesman for Mr Poots told The Irish Catholic that the party has worked with the Catholic Church on a number of issues. However, when asked whether or not Mr Poots would…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady