Church environmental lobbyists have criticised the Government’s blocking of the Climate Emergency Measures Bill, describing it as having acted as “judge, jury and executioner”. The bill to bar the granting of new licences for oil and gas exploration in Ireland had passed two separate votes in the Dáil last year, but was prevented from moving…
Candidates preparing for the priesthood should begin their initial year of formation in Ireland rather than abroad, a Waterford priest has said. Since 2016, it has been common for would-be priests to take part in a propaedeutic, or pre-seminary, year to help them discern their vocation. While some Irish candidates complete their preparatory year in…
The priest who led the funeral Mass for Limerick boxer Kevin Sheehy has described his death as “cruel”. The five times Irish boxing champion was killed in an early morning hit-and-run on July 1, causing shock across the country. Logan Jackson, from Coventry in England, appeared in court last week charged with murdering the 20-year-old…
About 10,000 people marched to support the right to life in Dublin over the weekend with the hopes to change culture, oppose Ireland’s new abortion law and defend conscience rights for medical professionals. People of all religions and none, ages, genders and ethnicities attended the Rally For Life, which took place in Dublin on Saturday.…
People from across the country braved a three-day pilgrimage in honour of St Oliver Plunkett this week, which culminated in the unveiling of a statue of the martyred saint. A Mass dedicated to the annual procession of the holy relics of St Oliver, as well as commemorating the 350th anniversary of his appointment as Archbishop…
A global programme to raise awareness among nurses of human trafficking has been welcomed by Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns, who represents the Irish bishops in an international anti-trafficking alliance. The initiative, a partnership between the International Council of Nurses, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, HSE and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,…
Over 100 singers and musicians from around the country attended the 50th Annual Irish Church Music Association’s summer school in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, last week on the theme ‘Rejoice and Sing’. This year the Irish Church Music Association’s 50th summer school was preceded by a two-day jubilee conference being held in partnership with the National Centre…
The Editor-in-Chief and US CEO of the UK-based Catholic Herald have left the company against the background of disagreements with board members over the magazine’s November 2018 American expansion. July 4 saw longtime Herald Editor-in-Chief Damian Thompson announce on Twitter that he and the magazine’s “new owners” did not agree on the company’s “future direction”,…
Pro-life organisations in the North have sharply criticised a vote in the House of Commons to introduce widespread access to abortion throughout Northern Ireland. Tuesday evening saw British MPs voting 332-99 in favour of an amendment to a bill connected to the Northern Ireland Executive Formation bill. The amendment was tabled by Labour MP Stella…
Chai Brady and Colm Fitzpatrick The Taoiseach has apologised for incendiary comments he made yesterday which stereotyped priests as hypocrites. Speaking in Dublin Castle today, Leo Varadkar apologised for his remarks in which he compared Micheál Martin to “one of those parish priests who preaches from the altar, telling us to avoid sin while secretly…
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady