Category: Irish News

Arab families to attend WMOF

WMOF 2018   A number of Arab families are attending the World Meeting of Families in Dublin today, made possible by the Irish members of a religious order which supports the presence of Christians in the Holy Land. The families will be led by Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Vicar for Jerusalem. Families from Nazareth, Bethlehem and…

LGBT issues are life issues, priest tells WMOF

WMOF 2018 Catholic parishes urged to stand up for persecuted gay people, writes Greg Daly In some countries, LGBT issues are ‘life issues’, the World Meeting of Families heard today, in an impassioned plea for parishes to welcome, integrate, and stand up for same-sex attracted and transgender Catholics. Addressing a packed hall, Fr James Martin SJ called for Catholic parishes to…

Primate looks ahead to Northern visit

The Primate of All Ireland has expressed his hope that Pope Francis will visit the North of Ireland in the distant future, giving it the “dedicated time” it requires. Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, Archbishop Eamon Martin said that he pushed hard to encourage the Holy See that the Pope would make a visit…

Lukewarm reaction to Pope’s abuse letter

Pope Francis’ letter to the world’s Catholics on clerical sexual abuse has been praised for its strong language but criticised for lacking promises of action against clergy who have committed or concealed abuse. The 2,000-word letter, coming against the background of last week’s Pennsylvania Grand Jury report that revealed over 1,000 children were abused by…