Carpooling and ‘Mass-link’ services to bus isolated parishioners to churches around the country could be ‘creative’ ways of helping rural dioceses cope with declining clerical vocations, Limerick’s Bishop Brendan Leahy has said. The bishop’s comments come against the background of plans for a State-subsidised ‘drink-link’ bus service intended to ward off fears that strict new…
Parishioners play a vital role in informing Mass-goers about Catholic social issues, including the right to life, a bishop has said. Commenting in response to a statement from the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), which lamented the presence of pro-life speakers at Catholic Masses, Ossory’s bishop Dermot Farrell told RTÉ that there is a tradition…
A Celtic FC footballer has praised his education in a Catholic school and said Communion was a proud moment for him and his family. Left-back Kiernan Tierney, who also plays for Scotland’s national team, spoke in a video created to celebrate 100 years of Catholic state education in Scotland. “It’s a great occasion for you…
Plans to reform an American diocese by drastically reducing the number of parishes could offer a ‘radical’ template for rejuvenating the Archdiocese of Dublin, a priest-author has said. The comments come following reports that the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has announced plans to reduce the current 188 parishes to just 57 over the next few…
Asylum seekers hoping to work face “very restrictive” arrangements made by the Department of Justice, who previously expressed concern that allowing people in direct provision to work would worsen the housing crisis. The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) told The Irish Catholic that since May 1, only one application for a work permit has been received…
Health Minister Simon Harris is telling “overt and blatant lies” about proposed abortion legislation, Save the 8th has said. Interviewed by the Sunday Times, Mr Harris said under proposed legislation there will not be “unlimited abortion up to birth in cases of life-limiting conditions”. Adding that the published heads of the bill do not contain…
The president of the body that represents Catholic second level schools has described as “worrying and unwelcome” Department of Education guidelines that insist that schools must provide alternatives for students who do not wish to participate in religious education. While the circular applies only to Education and Training Board and community schools, Fr Paul Connell…
A prominent Irish priest has criticised remarks made by a DUP founder concerning Protestant church leaders’ welcome of a papal visit to the North of Ireland this August. The criticism comes after Wallace Thompson, secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, told the Belfast Newsletter that a visit to the North by Pope Francis for the…
The ill-judged intervention strengthens the ‘Yes’ side, writes Fr Bill Kemmy It is not possible to let the recent media statement issued by the leadership of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) on the upcoming referendum on the Eight Amendment to go unchallenged. Very briefly, I want to focus on the content and the impact of…
With opinion polls tightening on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment this month, several Church leaders have stepped up their campaign to promote the right to life of the unborn. Over the bank holiday weekend, seven bishops across Ireland issued pastoral statements in a bid to influence more people to vote ‘No’ in the May…
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady