Popular Passionist priest Fr Brian D’Arcy has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to community relations. “I’m amazed,” he told The Irish Catholic, “in many ways it gives you an opportunity to encourage community building and when you get that opportunity – take it in both hands.” Reaction to the…

Claims that Pope Francis has changed the Lord’s Prayer are overblown, a leading Irish ecumenist has said. “I think there’s an element of fake news surrounding the story of the Our Father in the Italian Missal,” Fr Martin Browne told The Irish Catholic. “You’d think from some of the headlines that Pope Francis had wielded…

The annual Clonard Novena which draws in thousands each year promises to remind us of that “we can all be saints” in our complex, modern lives. Each year, the Novena follows a carefully worked out theme which is explored through preaching and the specially commissioned booklet with additional reflections. This year, the theme of the…

Priests need to be “courageous” when celebrating Catholic funerals of gang members, even if it could bring them into “serious confrontation”. Following a statement from the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, decrying “show funerals” of criminals directly involved the “traffic of evil”, several diocesan priests said they understood the archbishop’s position and welcomed his leadership,…

This is an edited extract of Emma Tobin’s (22) speech at the Believers in the Digital World: Opportunities for Mission seminar. It’s a powerful thing, social media. I’ve tried to ignore it, tried to pretend it didn’t matter to me if people ‘liked’ what I said or not, but in reality, it does matter. It…

The key to avoid danger, and con-tinue on a path of responsible and positive internet use is education, both of young people and adults, as Irish law can’t keep up with the speed of developing technologies according to the Archbishop of Armagh. Speaking to The Irish Catholic at the Believers in the Digital World: Opportunities…

After gaining the title of undisputed lightweight women’s champion over the weekend, it seems Bray-native Katie Taylor is thankful not only to her family and fans, but also to God. The famous Irish boxer defeated Belgian fighter Delfine Persoon in Madison Square Gardens over the weekend, securing the WBC green belt. In the lead up…

Pro-life groups in the North of Ireland have called for a boycott of media giants Netflix and Disney after their decision to economically threaten a US state’s decision to restrict abortion law. New legislation in Georgia, set to be implemented in January 2020, will see abortions outlawed once a foetal heartbeat is detected – which…

Parishes should engage “tech savvy” young people and encourage them to be ‘digital missionaries’ the Primate of All Ireland has told The Irish Catholic. Archbishop Eamon Martin agreed that as many people active in parishes were not familiar with social media, young people can be the answer to spreading the Gospel online. This was a…

Comments made by a US bishop who told Catholics not to go or support any LGBTQ Pride events have been dubbed “hugely offensive” and not based in fact. Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Thomas Tobin also said on social media the events “promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and…