Ignorance of religion in political and media circles in Ireland could lead to “apathy and violence”, according to a Trinity College Dublin (TCD) professor who is holding a conference on the dangers of religious illiteracy. Dr Fáinche Ryan, Director of the Loyola Institute, told The Irish Catholic: “Today we have a problem in which people think…

The late broadcaster Marian Finucane has been described as a woman of great empathy imbibed with a sense of fairness. Mrs Finucane died suddenly at her home in Co. Kildare, and was laid to rest following requiem Mass on Tuesday. Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll told mourners that Mrs Finucane was “such an icon of Irish broadcasting…

Students For Life Ireland has hit out at the Health Minister, Simon Harris, over what it labelled his “obsession” with the abortion issue. Speaking in response the Health Minister’s recent remarks on exclusion zones, a spokesperson for the group said that “any time the Health Minister gets into political difficulty, whenever there is talk of…

A festival focused on the environment is being organised during Catholic Schools Week as in the Archdiocese of Dublin at the end of January, with famous climate activist Greta Thunberg being dubbed an “inspiration” for children. The Laudate Festival 2020 will celebrate the theme of Living in Harmony with God’s Creation in song and reflection,…

Priests have expressed the hope that younger Catholics are rediscovering the Sacrament of Reconciliation after reporting a notable upsurge in people availing of Confession this Christmas. Limerick-based Fr Gerard Moloney CSsR said the much talked about “demise of Confession” is “slightly exaggerated”. “We have heard hundreds here in Limerick over the last few days, of…

Irish officials skipped an international meeting highlighting persecuted Christians, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has admitted to the Dáil. He did not give an explanation when questioned by Fianna Fáil’s Seán Haughey. The Second International Conference on Christian Persecution met in Hungary at the end of November and heard from Christians from the Middle East and other…

Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged Catholics not to forget the suffering that is taking place in different parts of the world, particularly as a result of war and conflict. Speaking at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh over Christmas, Archbishop Martin said “there is such a need for the light of Christ…

Renowned boxing star Katie Taylor has said that every time she steps into the ring it’s like an “act of worship” over the weekend, and that she knows her future is in God’s hands. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One Extra, the lightweight world champion said that growing up in a Christian household and going to…

A champion of ecumenism, a prison chaplain and singing trio ‘The Priests’ are amongst those to be honoured by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her traditional new year list of awards. Tyrone-based cleric Fr Kevin Mullan is to be awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for what Buckingham Palace describes as “services to inter-Church collaboration and…

The new British government should acknowledge the “fragile peace” people of Faith have strived for in Northern Ireland and prioritse the peace process as Brexit looms,  MEP Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of the European Parliament, has said. Following the Conservatives’ massive election victory on December 12 and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s moves to make it illegal…