Higgins’ comments on Catholic schools rejected A number of prominent Catholic voices have rejected a claim by President Michael D. Higgins that the fact that parental choice is central to education policy in the North and many parents choose to send their children to Catholic schools is to abandon them “to parcels of hate and…
Bills in Ireland and Northern Ireland seeking to ban conversion therapy are too “broad and sweeping”, threatening penalties for “honest conversations” about sexual identity, according to Christian organisations. Courage International, an apostolate of the Catholic Church that counsels men and women with same-sex attractions, as well as evangelical organisations Affinity and the Fellowship of Evangelical…
The law introduced last week on religious gatherings has made it illegal even to hold outdoor confession, according to a law professor. Professor Oran Doyle, from the law school at Trinity College Dublin, said the new provision, SI 171/2021, applies to both indoor and outdoor events and “that’s where it is different from restrictions on…
The vandalism of Jewish graves in Belfast’s City Cemetery has been dubbed “distressing” and “anti-Semitic” by Bishop Noel Treanor of the Diocese of Down and Connor. The police launched a hate crime investigation into the incident which took place last Thursday. Ten gravestones were damaged. In 2016, 13 graves in the same plot were damaged…
A race car driving prince has opened up about how he always tries to go to Mass before his races, even asking a priest to celebrate a private Mass in his hotel room when there was none available. Prince Ferdinand von Habsburg, who competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) but has also raced in…
The Irish Government must speak up about persecution of Christians in the Middle East, international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said, as recent videos showed ISIS executing a Christian in Egypt. A 62-year-old Egyptian Christian, Nabil El-Habashy, was killed by ISIS in the Sinai Province of Egypt, which has witnessed several deadly…
The recent street violence in Northern Ireland has dashed illusions that there are no circumstances in which “lethal, politically-motivated violence” could recur, former adviser to Taoisigh Martin Mansergh has said. A key architect in the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Mansergh wrote in The Irish Catholic this week that the causes of tension need to…
A Tipperary priest has queried whether the Government will be financially supporting clergy who have invested in webcams in order to move their services online. Fr Michael Toomey PP of Ardfinnan and Newcastle told The Irish Catholic he spent €5,000 setting up a webcam to broadcast Masses to his parishioners. He also pays €180 a…
The auxiliary bishop of Armagh has warned parents not to alienate their children from the other parent when relationships end, saying it’s “a particular form of domestic abuse”. In a homily over the weekend, Bishop Michael Router pointed to International Parental Alienation Awareness day, which takes place on Sunday, April 25. “This day highlights a…
10,000 apprenticeships have been announced this week as part of an Action Plan on Apprenticeships, the move being hailed as a “positive development” by Fr Sean Healy SMA of Social Justice Ireland. As part of the new plan, 10,000 apprenticeships will be created every year from 2025 onwards, with a target to hire 750 public…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady