Irish organisations have called for the release of a Jesuit priest in India after he was arrested on “outrageous” and “flimsy” charges relating to terrorism. Fr Stan Swamy from Ranchi in India was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India and imprisoned on October 8. He was accused of having links with banned…

Independent senators Rónán Mullen and Lynn Ruane clashed over “present hypocricies” and a lack of honesty during Seanad debates over the Mother and Baby Homes Commission Bill. The argument arose when Senator Mullen said politicians were “running with the pack” in condemning the past, rather than looking for “nuance”. Lynne Ruane shot back that Mr…

While the Church in Ireland struggles to adapt to the rolling Covid-19 measures, NET Ministries are continuing to adapt to the moving times in an effort to reach out to the young people of Ireland. “As the restrictions change, and as advice from the Government is different nearly every week, we’re very much holding it…

Catholics in the North wait almost twice as long as Protestants for housing according to government statistics. Out of 35,750 people on the housing list by the end of June 2020, 36.4% identified as Catholic while 38.2% identified as Protestant. The figures, discovered by the Belfast Telegraph after a Freedom of Information request, found that…

Young people are being “stigmatised” for the spread of Covid-19 despite many “stepping up” and being generous and self-sacrificial according to the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin. Speaking at Mass for the dedication of studies at the Catholic Chaplaincy, Queen’s University Belfast Archbishop Eamon said many young people have shown “great resilience” throughout the pandemic and…

Shoppers in one of the largest supermarkets in Ballymena, Co. Antrim were stunned when the words “F*** the Pope” were announced over the tannoy. It is understood that a member of the public, a male youth, gained access to an unattended speaker at a Tesco store and shouted out the sectarian slur. According to a…

The founder of the Knights of Columbus, Fr Michael McGivney, is to be beatified during a special Mass on October 31 at the Cathedral of St Joseph in Connecticut. Born to Irish immigrants to the US Patrick and Mary McGivney, Fr McGivney was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and was ordained a priest in 1877. Best…

A data analyst has challenged a DUP minister’s claim that there are more Covid-19 hotspots in Catholic communities, saying poverty is the key factor linked to outbreaks not religion. Speaking to The Irish News, Peter Donaghy said it was in socially deprived areas that people won’t have jobs which allow them to work from home.…

A Catholic priest and a Church of Ireland minister have joined forces in East Galway for a daily 3km prayer run for their parishes’ spiritual and financial wellbeing. Fr Gerard Geraghty of Aughrim and Kilconnell and Rev. John Godfrey of Aughrim and Creagh have committed to running every day while churches are closed. “John came…

A priest based in Wales has vowed that he would rather be arrested than refuse to administer the sacraments to Catholics. It comes after the Welsh authorities announced this week that they would follow the lead of authorities in the Republic and ban public worship. It makes the Republic and Wales the only places in…