Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has criticised the “flagrant mistreatment of childcare providers” by Minister Katherine Zappone. In a recent statement, TD Tóibín suggested that the actions of her department threatens the childcare sector as a whole. “Minister Zappone pledged that in addition to the 70% wage subsidy, the Department for Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) would…
The episcopal consecration of the new bishop of Achonry, which was postponed due to coronavirus restrictions, will now go ahead on August 30 a spokesman for the diocese has confirmed. Bishop-elect Paul Dempsey will be ordained bishop in the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy in Ballaghaderreen. Fr Dempsey, who has been serving as…
Pro-life campaigners in the North are urging the region’s Assembly to restore protection for unborn children. It comes after MPs in Westminster voted to remove the last legal obstacle meaning that abortion will be allowed for any reason up to 12 weeks, and up to birth on specific grounds such as disability. The regulations came…
The famous Redemptorist novena in Limerick has reached an even bigger congregation than normal thanks to the wonders of technology, Fr Gerry Moloney CSsR told The Irish Catholic this week. The annual event would normally see the Redemptorist church in the city thronged with worshippers, but Covid-19 restrictions mean that the novena sessions are only…
The Diocese of Kerry has appealed to TDs in the county to urge the Government to relax a rule that would permit as few as 50 people to attend Mass from June 29. When the Government announced the accelerated roadmap there was no mention of the limit. However, at the weekend Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said…
Two Tyrone Catholic Grammar schools have said they will have entrance exams despite the Primate of All-Ireland calling for schools to abandon them this year due to the pandemic. St Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon and St Joseph’s in nearby Donaghmore will use academic selection. Archbishop Eamon Martin of the Archdiocese of Armagh, the diocese in…
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has added his voice to those calling for the re-evaluation of the ’50 people only’ rule which applies to the re-opening of churches and places of worship on Monday. Deputy Toibín insisted that “now more than ever faith and spirituality is playing an important role in so many people’s lives”.…
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has criticised a decision by the Government to limit the number of people allowed to attend public Masses. “It seems strange that in a church with a capacity of 1,500 people which has been scrupulously fitted out for conformity with social distancing and with clear indications about movement and interaction…
Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has left the territory of the Vatican for the first time since his abdication in 2013 to go to Germany to be with his 96-year-old brother Fr Georg who is in poor health. He made the decision shortly after consulting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. A comunique from the Holy…
Bishop Kevin Doran has paid tribute to the garda detective who died in a shooting incident in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon in the Diocese of Elphin. He has been named by gardaí as Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The armed detective, who was from Co Mayo, was on duty on his own in Castlerea when he was shot just…
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly