The RDS was packed with people of all ages at the weekend for the Divine Mercy Conference. The three-day event is in its 29th year and ran under the theme ‘Deliver us from evil’. This was spoken about extensively by guest speakers which included Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, Fr…

The Pope may have to fast-track a replacement for Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in Dublin or face the prospect of the country’s largest diocese not having a bishop for up to a year, The Irish Catholic understands. Informed sources confirm that Dr Martin – who is due to reach the mandatory age of 75 at which he…

We have moved too far away from traditional fasting says a Glenstal Abbey monk. Fr Fintan Lyons OSB, has said “I feel we have gone too far in avoiding the older practice of fasting from food; in the Church’s tradition it was associated with feasts, the fast before the feast, and based on what the…

Pro-life campaigner Katie Ascough has hit back at comments made by the President of University College Dublin (UCD) in a Sunday newspaper. Prof. Andrew Deeks spoke about the impeachment of the former Students’ Union president and her claims of discrimination by lecturers due to her religious beliefs in the Sunday Independent article. Ms Ascough, who…

The Jesuits are completing extensive utility works at their 10.5 acre site in Milltown Park – a prime real estate location in Dublin – following its €66m sale . The Irish Catholic believes the site in the prized residential area of Ranelagh was sold to Ardstone Capital for circa €66m after intense competition, €10m more…

Trócaire has defended its commitment to a low carbon footprint after it came in for criticism for the volume of paper used for their Lenten campaign. Fr Ted Sheehan of Glounthane Parish in Cork has said he has complained to the charity every year for the last four years – asking them to reduce the…

An Irish priest would be prepared to die rather than leave the Faithful in Hong Kong despite the Covid-19 (coronavirus) scare, leading to all Church services in Hong Kong being cancelled. Fr Michael Cuddigan SSC of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Central, Hong Kong, said despite increased tensions regarding Covid-19 he won’t be…

Only 32% of Irish people trust religious leaders, according to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer. This is the second lowest trust score of leaders ahead of the very wealthy (24%) and behind government leaders (36%), CEOs (38%), journalists (42%) and scientists (79%). The survey took in over 34,000 responses globally and 1,150 from Ireland between…

Fr Ray Kelly says he can “up his game” despite the on-going backlash from critics over his appearance and performance on RTÉ1’s Dancing With The Stars. The singing priest survived another elim-ination on February 16 by securing enough public votes to remain on the show. However, sections of the media and public have voiced their…

Sr Stan has said she was blown away by the positive response to the documentary on her life. To mark her 80th birthday, Being Stan: A Life in Focus, aired on RTÉ1 on Thursday, February 13. It celebrated her life and work for the homeless and marginalised. “I was taken aback by the response from…