Multiple attempts by this paper to get a response from SDLP MP Claire Hanna to the question of whether or not she accepts the right of St Mary’s University College to continue to be an autonomous Catholic university have gone unanswered after she appeared to support the “cancelling” of the institution. Despite multiple attempts to…
Staff morale is at an “all time low” as Mary Immaculate College (MIC) announced it has cancelled the third round of interviews for the Head of Theology role. Interviews for the third round of the recruitment process were to take place on Thursday, July 6. Last week, MIC announced that the interviews were cancelled, this…
The Pope’s direction to the newly-appointed head of the Vatican department which deals with discipline and defending the Faith to commit “more directly” to areas other than dealing with child abuse has been described as “very concerning”. Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández of La Plata, Argentina, head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of…
The revelation that children in State care are being targeted by sexual predators due to a lack of national policy and training on exploitation “wasn’t a surprise,” according to an organisation tackling child trafficking in Ireland. The Protecting Against Predators study interviewed 21 staff from 14 agencies working with vulnerable children and found that trafficking…
Known best for his iconic portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Catholic actor Jim Caviezel has said that a new movie he’s starring in aims to motivate millions to end child trafficking. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, Sound of Freedom is based on true events and stars Jim Caviezel as former…
The Irish community in Paris has joined in prayers for peace following days of protest across France after the shooting dead of a 17-year-old by a police officer. Nahel M., who is Algerian and of Moroccan descent, was shot during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a Paris suburb on June 27. Violent protests broke out…
Gogglebox Ireland has put out a call for nuns and priests to be a part of their TV show, which focuses on friends and families across the country watching television and filmed to see their reactions. Series producer Gareth McGreevy has said they are hoping to cast clergy and religious as their new ‘Goggleboxers’. Speaking…
Fr Shaun Doherty, a former radio host who gave up his chatshow to give his life to God, was ordained a priest for Derry diocese on July 2. The priest was one of Ireland’s most popular radio hosts, spending 30 years on the airwaves for Donegal’s Highland Radio. Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown ordained Fr…
This year’s Rally for Life saw thousands gather in Dublin to “hold the Government to account for the spiralling abortion rate”, as the large crowd filled O’Connell Street on Saturday, July 1. A Rally for Life spokesperson called for the three-day wait before abortion to be retained and criticised a Dáil bill seeking to legalise…
Audrey Bryce When Fr Pat Neeson joined the priesthood, he had his heart set from the very start on ending up somewhere like Malawi, Africa, to begin his ministry. Fr Neeson was passionate about his calling, saying, “All through my training I wanted to go there. I thought I would go to Africa, and I…
Chai Brady