A three-day walk to celebrate the 350th anniversary of St Oliver Plunkett’s appointment to the See of Armagh will take place next month. The pilgrimage walk begins at St Peter’s in Drogheda, the shrine of the relics of St Plunkett, in July 7 at 10.45am and finishes in Armagh’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, with the unveiling…
Category: Irish News
Most IC readers support the idea of married priests – poll
The majority of IC readers believe that the Church should consider ordaining men in the Amazon region. Online readers were asked in a Facebook poll: “The Vatican’s synod on the Amazon will consider whether ‘proven men’, who are married, could be ordained priests. Would you support this?” Out of the 494 votes, 304 respondents said…
Future of small dioceses in doubt as Rome stalls bishops’ appointments
Dioceses must be fit for mission, says Primate The future of Ireland’s smallest dioceses is coming under increased Vatican scrutiny with a policy to withhold appointing bishops once a small diocese becomes vacant. The Irish Catholic understands at least three of the smallest dioceses will not receive new bishops and will likely be amalgamated…
Government climate plan is unrealistic, says eco-theologian
The Government’s Climate Action Plan lacks vital practicalities and doesn’t allow for necessary incentives and infrastructural changes to enable Ireland to play its part in tackling the global climate emergency, Ireland’s leading eco-theologian has said. “We’ve had so much of aspirational things for the last 25 years,” Columban Fr Seán McDonagh told The Irish Catholic,…
Heroic Irish nuns receive awards for outstanding work
An Irish nun committed to empowering young women in one of the world’s most volatile countries has received an award in recognition of her vital work. Wicklow-born Sr Orla Treacy, of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Loreto Sisters, was given the Societal Impact prize as part of the DCU…
Mapping a Church fit for mission
Decisions about Ireland’s dioceses must be driven by discipleship, Archbishop Eamon Martin tells Greg Daly It was inevitable that questions would be asked about the future of the Diocese of Dromore when, just weeks after a new auxiliary bishop was announced for the Archdiocese of Armagh, Bishop Philip Boyce stepped down as Dromore’s diocesan…
Aontú leader accuses gov. of sweeping abortion case ‘under the carpet’
Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín has said the family at the centre of the Holles Street abortion case feel they’re not being “treated fairly” and that the government is ignoring the issue. After speaking to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar under Dáil privilege last week concerning a couple who opted for an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital…
Bishops defend how RSE is taught in Catholic schools
The bishops have rejected claims that Catholic schools do not teach about facts in Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) classes. In their latest quarterly statement, the hierarchy responded to criticisms of the way RSE is taught in their schools. Health Minister, Simon Harris, said in a recent Tweet that RSE “must always be based on…
Boston-style Church archives could preserve Irish records
A religious archives repository along the lines of one newly established at Boston College in the US would be “a really good idea” for the Irish Church, Dublin’s diocesan archivist has said. “I think it’s a really good idea,” Noelle Dowling told The Irish Catholic. “I think instead of people trying to invest in archives…
Pro-life student gets death threat after Irish Times article
An outspoken pro-life advocate is encouraging others with the same convictions to not be “silenced” in the face of intimidation or bullying. 21-year-old student Gavin Boyne is urging the pro-life community to be resilient in the face of criticism after he received online abuse and a death threat for sharing his views. “I’m a little…



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