Former Minister Lucinda Creighton has warned that pro-choice campaigners are trying to frame the debate around abortion to exclude talk about the unborn child who loses his or her life as a result of a termination. She also dismissed media claims that politicians who support abortion are ‘brave’ and criticised TDs and Senators who sacrifice…
Hatred and violence must find no shelter amongst communities, the priest at the funeral of murder victim Derek Hutch has warned. Mr Hutch (27) was shot dead while he was sitting alone in a car at Bridgeview halting site in Ronanstown, west Dublin on Saturday January 20. He became the 14th victim of what Gardaí…
Catholic education offers a way of bridging religious and secular ways of looking at the world, Killaloe’s Bishop Fintan Monahan has said. Speaking in St Flannan’s College, Ennis, this week, Bishop Monahan launched Catholic Schools Week by calling to mind the motto of Cistercian College, Roscrea, which can be loosely translated, he said, as “while…
Irish pubs will now be allowed to serve alcohol on Good Friday after the Dáil voted today (Thursday) to lift the ban leaving some campaigners wondering how long the law forcing pubs to close on Christmas Day will remain. The ban will be lifted before Good Friday, which this year falls on March 30. Minister…
Katie Ascough has urged students with pro-life views to “stay strong” and “to follow the courage of their convictions” after receiving an award for her actions as UCD students’ union president. Ms Ascough, who was impeached for ordering the reprint of a magazine that contained illegal abortion information, said that although it may be difficult…
Bishop says Papal gesture seen as a way to reach-out An Irish bishop has said a gesture by Pope Francis to marry a pair of flight attendants on board the Papal plane should cause the Church to consider whether the requirement to get married in a church building needs to be changed. Bishop of…
Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell has rejected claims that parts of a controversial Dáil speech attacking the Church were drawn from an article that appeared on a US-based website last year. Speaking during a debate on abortion, calling for repeal of the Eighth Amendment, Ms O’Connell said: “Holy Catholic Ireland was a monstrous hoax. “When…
A small-town Australian priest could soon become a Hollywood hit now film rights to his new book have been bought by US film producers. Born in Malta in 1981, Fr Rob Galea is a curate in St Killian’s Parish, Bendigo, Victoria, but is known throughout Australia where he has appeared on X-Factor, released six albums,…
Women facing crisis pregnancies need compassion, but this does not give anyone the right to end another’s life, Fr Brian D’Arcy has said. Speaking on RTÉ’s Clare Byrne Show on Monday, Fr D’Arcy said: “I understand that we lose life, life doesn’t last forever, that mothers in difficulties have to make absolute choices, and I’ve…
A government move that could see publicly-funded Catholic counselling agencies closing has been described as “an attack on the independence of civil society”. Currently the Department of Children and Youth Affairs pays almost €1.6 million per year to Accord, the marriage and relationship counselling service run by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, via Tusla –…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Susan Gately