Pope Francis’ attempts to address abuse in the Church have been disappointing, the former head of the Irish Church’s child protection board has said. Commenting on claims that the Pope has utterly failed to tackle the issue, Ian Elliott, who headed the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, agreed, saying: “He has…
The principles of Humanae Vitae, Blessed Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical on the regulation of birth, have been “ignored for too long”, Elphin’s Bishop Kevin Doran has said, with the Church needing to present them “in a fresh way, in contemporary language and in an appropriate context”. Opening a Nazareth Family Institute-organised conference in Dublin to…
A failure of DUP leader Arlene Foster to see Pope Francis later this month would promote negative images of unionism as well as enhance “fear and smallness of mind”, a prominent Protestant minister has said. Dr Ken Newell, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who played a significant role in the peace process,…
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has refuted the claims of Ireland’s Health Minister that conscientious objection is “for individuals, not institutions”, and that he should consider the need to protect hospitals from coercion. Before and since the Eighth Amendment was repealed the decision to opt out of providing abortion by way of conscientious objection, without repercussion, has…
A devout Irish man has joined the production team of a New York play which explores Elvis Presley’s Christian upbringing and struggle with faith. Louth native John Aidan Byrne says the story “made a deep impression with me as I examined my own positive Catholic upbringing and faith journey”. The King, the Final Hours, a new off-Broadway play, is…
Homeowners are being encouraged to invite elderly people who may have mobility or other issues to their houses to watch the papal Mass in a group setting. Pope Francis’ Mass in the Phoenix Park on August 26 is set to be an historic event for all involved, but with many elderly people unable to attend,…
An Irish priest who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in February, has completed a 550km journey from the top to the bottom of Ireland raising almost €220,000 to aid research into the condition. Dublin-based priest, Fr Tony Coote said the disease was a “very degenerating and difficult illness” but rather than complain about…
Pilgrims travelling to see Pope Francis in the Phoenix Park this month should be careful travelling to and from the event and make use of public transport when possible, Killaloe’s bishop has said. Bishop Fintan Monahan said that on August 26, around 500,000 people are due to be in Dublin together for the World Meeting…
A prominent pro-life group has condemned Health Minister Simon Harris who said he will provide abortion to women from the North of Ireland when the regime is introduced in the South. Precious Life said it was a “shocking and outrageous attack” on Northern Ireland’s unborn babies and the democratic process after Simon Harris said last…
Funding threat compels change The decision of the Church’s marriage agency Accord to offer same-sex couples access to their counselling service is not “sending out the right message” about Church teaching theologians have told The Irish Catholic. A spokesperson for the hierarchy confirmed that Accord is opening its counselling services to same-sex couples “Our…
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady