The bishop of Down and Connor has urged politicians to be more careful about their language as Belfast has been engulfed in nightly violence for over a week
The Irish Bishops have announced the initial submission phase of the upcoming synod, which was announced March 10. Commenting on the development, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said the bishops were inviting submissions “to reflect on what methods/models to adopt” in the coming two years of conversations. He gave as examples “parish hall meetings, focus…
Voices at the forefront of youth ministry have warned that if the Church is to avoid attempts to “water down” its core teaching it must take the lead from young people who are already practising Catholics and engaged with faith. These calls come amid concerns that in an attempt to reach those on the margins…
A politician’s question to the Minister for Health, asking whether it is an offence to organise public Mass, was ‘disallowed’ by the Ceann Comhairle. Carol Nolan TD of the Laois-Offaly constituency attempted to put the question to Minister Stephen Donnelly. She asked: “To ask the Minister for Health if it is an offence to organise…
Small churches in rural Ireland may have to close as depopulation and the devastating effects of Covid will lead to many being unsustainable, according to the Bishop of Killaloe. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Bishop Fintan Monahan said: “With the declining number of people that are living in rural areas, rural depopulation – it’s a…
Fr Gerard Quirke said celebrating Easter Mass at a penal times Mass rock on Achill Island has a “particular resonance” given the legal ban on Masses. Fr Quirke of the Achill parish celebrated 7am Mass at the site which was used during the era of penal laws when Catholics endured restrictions on their civil liberties.…
Pope Francis’ letter to Northern Irish Presbyterian Rev. Norman Hamilton “modelled respectful dialogue” as the North faces “fraught times”, said Fr Martin Magill. Fr Magill, a Belfast-based priest and organiser of 4 Corners Belfast, praised the letter for “modelling dialogue and respectful dialogue”. “I welcome it especially because we are in another of our fraught…
Euthanasia and assisted suicide offer a “tap-out option”, rather than greater dignity, according to 24 year-old disability rights advocate Conor Lynott, who himself has a diagnosis of Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy. Lost their way “If it’s there, people might take euthanasia as an easy option,” he told The Irish Catholic. “It gets rid of the…
The memory of the Holocaust has been used by “cynical actors” to campaign and spread conspiracies during the pandemic, according to Israel’s ambassador to Ireland. Speaking at a webinar on Holocaust remembrance, Ambassador Ophir Kariv said it is easy to spot Holocaust denial but far more difficult to recognise Holocaust distortion, which has increased during the…
The Easter messaging from the Irish Government has come under fire after Boris Johnson’s strongly-worded statement. “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this is Christianity’s most important festival,” the British prime minister said, continuing, “And that, while churches are open, the ongoing coronavirus restrictions mean that once again, it won’t be possible for…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady