Pro-life groups have decried a decision to appoint a former director of abortion provider Marie Stopes to the NI Equality Commission (NIEC), dubbing it a “conflict of interest”. Dawn Purvis, who is also a former PUP leader, was one of nine new commission members appointed by Secretary of State Karen Bradley for the next three…
A Tipperary priest has urged the government to tackle the country’s current suicide and mental health crisis. In a meeting with mental health minister Jim Daly, Fr Michael Toomey of Clonmel raised serious concerns about the lack of resources in the county to address this epidemic, stressing that the county has had a higher than…
The Irish priest who deals with cases of clerical sex abuse worldwide for the Vatican has described how the work has impacted adversely on him and his colleagues. Fr John Kennedy has headed the discipline section of the Vatican’s Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2017. He said that the issue of abuse…
The Government has said it is investigating a hospital which is refusing to provide abortions. Four consultant obstetricians at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, wrote to GPs in the area to advise that abortion services are not available in the hospital. The letter said it was “decided unanimously that the hospital is not an appropriate location…
More than 600 people attended the annual Pro Life Campaign dinner last weekend. The keynote speaker was Elma Walsh, mother of Donal Walsh, who captured the attention of the nation with his brave fight against cancer in 2013. The event took place at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge. It is the fifth annual fund-raising dinner.…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly