Former Taoiseach John Bruton has hit out at Health Minister Simon Harris for showing a lack of respect to people with different views on issues like abortion. He also said there is a contradiction in modern Ireland between concern for how children died in Mother and Baby homes decades ago, and a lack of concern…
Category: Irish News
100 Questions on the Viganò Allegations
It’s important to examine the allegations in Archbishop Viganò’s testimony, writes Greg Daly 1. What’s this Viganò story? While Pope Francis was in Ireland, Carlo Maria Viganò, a former papal nuncio to the US, had several media outlets publish a ‘testimony’ attacking the Pope and a host of prelates, and calling for the Pope’s…
We must go to the people – Bishop Deenihan
Priests in commuter towns need to engage actively with their communities to boost the Church’s visibility, Ireland’s newest bishop has said. “It’s about interacting with the community – it’s about getting involved, and becoming part of the community,” Meath’s Bishop Tom Deenihan told The Irish Catholic. “If the community isn’t coming into the Church, it’s…
‘Tactical attacks’ on Pope are part of political agenda – priest
Attacks against Pope Francis in the wake of accusations of abuse cover-ups by a former papal nuncio to the US are “tactical” and politically motivated, according to a well-known Dublin priest. Fr Bryan Shortall OFM Cap., who was present for Francis’ visit to a homelessness shelter in the capital, said the Pontiff’s silence on the…
Trump’s visit may be an opportunity – priests
Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland will be an opportunity for the Government to challenge his views on immigration, and reflect on our own failings, Irish priests have said. Speaking in response to the announcement that the US President will be coming to the country in November, migrant’s rights activist Fr Alan Hilliard said there are…
Moving forward in Francis’ footsteps
Meath’s new bishop is looking forward to leading a Church that goes to where people are, writes Greg Daly Meeting Pope Francis with Ireland’s bishops, just a week ahead of his own ordination as Bishop of Meath, was a touching experience, according to Bishop Tom Deenihan. “I think we were all touched by the…
Baby shoes placed at altar during Cork Mass
A church in Cork was filled with applause and tears on Sunday after baby shoes were placed on the altar to commemorate the victims and survivors of clerical abuse. Canon David Herlihy said he proposed the commemoration ceremony that took place in St Mary’s Parish Church in Youghal after members of the Standing4Women movement had…
‘Radical’ changes only hope for Church survival
Radical change is needed in the Irish Church if it is to stay afloat, a Limerick-based priest has said. Speaking in the wake of a two-day conference in Thurles last week, entitled ‘The Future of the Irish Parish: Lessons from Abroad’, Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon said that the Irish Church needs more pastoral lay leaders to…
Papal trip gave Church ‘fresh hope’
Over 70% of people who took part in a social media poll conducted by The Irish Catholic believe Pope Francis gave fresh hope to the Church during his visit. Over 1,000 people responded to the question with the majority reacting positively to the 36-hour papal trip which took place from August 25-26, saying it was…
Pope wants Irish Catholics to be missionary disciples
I am close to you: keep moving ahead with courage, Pope tells bishops All of us, as bishops, are conscious of our responsibility to be fathers to God’s holy and faithful people. As good fathers, we want to encourage and inspire, to reconcile and unify, and above all, to preserve all the good handed…

Michael Kelly
Greg Daly

Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick




