Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, today speaking about his disappointment of no papal visit to the North and his excitement for the World Meeting of Families this August.
Category: Irish News
Archbishop says Pope’s trip a ‘gift’ to Ireland
Papal schedule announced Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said that the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in August “must not be just a once-off event” and insisted that the Church has to see it as an opportunity for renewal. Speaking as the Vatican announced details of the Pope’s visit, Dr Martin said…
Human rights welcome UK decision on North’s abortion laws
Human rights activists in the North have welcomed a decision by the UK Supreme Court to dismiss an attempt to overturn the region’s laws on abortion. The challenge to the law was brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) but judges said it would have required the case to have been brought by…
Disappointment across North as papal visit looks impossible
Greg Daly
There is huge disappointment across the Catholic community in the North as hopes fade about the prospect of a papal visit to the region, Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown has said. With a visit by Pope Francis to Northern Ireland now looking almost impossible, Bishop McKeown has said Protestants and Catholics would have welcomed a visit.…
Bumper opening weekend for Lough Derg
Colm Fitzpatrick
Over 500 pilgrims visited St Patrick’s Purgatory in Lough Derg for the opening weekend of the island shrine’s 2017 Three-Day Pilgrimage season last weekend. Speaking about the high turnout, communications officer at Lough Derg Sharon Hearty said: “The current demographic of the Three-Day Pilgrimage is better balanced than ever, between men and women, younger and…
Even non-practising Christians try to pass on faith: Pew survey
The vast majority of Irish Christians are raising their children in the Faith, a new survey has found, with even non-practising Christians more inclined to have their children brought up in their religion than non-practising Christians elsewhere in Western Europe. Almost 25,000 adults across 15 countries were interviewed last year for ‘Being Christian in Western…
Catholics left ‘confused and bruised’ in wake of referendum – priest
Catholics across Ireland are facing an identity crisis and have not been properly educated in their Faith, a prominent Irish priest has said. Tuam priest Fr Eamonn Conway said many Catholics today are “confused” and that we have to accept the fact that formation and catechesis has been “very poor” in many respects. The comments…
Singing priest gets a hero’s welcome after Britain’s Got Talent
Chai Brady
Despite not reaching the final of Britain’s Got Talent, Ireland’s singing priest says he’s got nothing put positive feedback regarding how he portrayed the Church and priesthood. Fr Ray Kelly received a hero’s welcome as he arrived back to his Church on Monday night as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate his accomplishment. Fr Kelly…
New ambassador to the Holy See appointed
The Irish diplomat credited with enhancing relations between Ireland and the Vatican is to return to Dublin after completing her post in Rome, Emma Madigan – who was appointed Irish Ambassador to the Holy See in 2014 – is to be replaced by Derek Hannon who is expected to present his credentials to Pope Francis…
Voters ‘intimidated’ in Church- owned schools, TDs claim
Left-wing TDs Clare Daly and Richard Boyd-Barrett have complained that voters were “intimidated” when voting in the May 25 abortion referendum by being confronted with religious imagery in Church-owned schools. Speaking in the Dáil last week, Ms Daly said there had been “strategic location of religious iconography” in order to, she had been told “influence…