Pope Francis has been urged to use his visit to Ireland next month to highlight Government inaction on climate change as targets continue to be missed despite political promises. Éamonn Meehan, executive director of Trócaire, said that the Pope’s leadership on a vital issue like climate change that imperils the future of the planet “will…
Matthew Carlson All events in the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) are booked out, with all 500,000 tickets for the closing Mass being reserved by Sunday, July 8, according to WMOF organisers. The Mass, which will be celebrated by Pope Francis, will take place in Dublin’s Phoenix Park at 3pm on Sunday, August 26. Within…
Pro-life taxpayers will have to foot the bill for abortions under new proposals approved by the Government this week, despite having a conscientious objection to the killing of unborn children. Minister for Health Simon Harris secured Cabinet approval on Tuesday. He also announced controversial plans to create so-called ‘safe access zones’ around clinics providing abortion…
A number of parishioners and a priest have been left ‘upset’ and ‘traumatised’ after being subjected to an onslaught of sectarian abuse outside a Catholic church in Scotland. Parish priest Canon Tom White was allegedly spat on twice and called “Fenian scum” as well as a “paedophile” by supporters of the Orange Order outside Glasgow’s…
The new Stations of the Cross which were recently installed at Knock Basilica provide pilgrims with an opportunity to follow Christ on his way to Calvary, Tuam’s Archbishop has said. On Sunday, July 8, Archbishop Michael Neary blessed the new Stations, which were the final touch to the church interior. The work was undertaken by…
A prominent left-wing TD was left red-faced after questions on Government expenditure and staff deployment around August’s papal trip showed the Department of the Taoiseach is not being unduly stretched by plans for Pope Francis’s visit. In a series of written questions, Solidarity Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach how many staff in…
The Church needs to “go back to basics” if it wants to continue the work of Christ in a “more secular society” and “different place” today, Waterford and Lismore’s bishop has said. Writing in the Irish Examiner, Dr Alphonsus Cullinan said: “With the emergence of a more secular society and the decline in the Church’s…
Chairpersons from local Men’s Sheds from across Ireland say they are struggling to find funding and stay afloat. With help from the local community and the Church some have managed to continue but several have reportedly closed across Dublin and Cork, which could just be the tip of the iceberg according to organisers. This comes…
Matthew Carlson Although it is a bit of a stretch to associate religion with the success rates of the World Cup, one can’t help but wonder. Three of the four teams reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup come from predominantly Catholic countries. Although this isn’t really new, it’s no doubt that this World…
There was joy and relief as the news broke that divers in northern Thailand have rescued 12 boys and their football coach from flooded caves, 17 days after they got trapped underground. The plight of the group and the dangerous work to free them has gripped the world’s attention. Parishioners in Ireland were amongst those…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly