Following the launch of the American version of Dancing with the Stars, TV tough guy Mr T has said the plans to knock out his dancing competition the same way he beat cancer – with God on his side. Best known for starring in The A Team and Rocky III, Mr T has revealed that…

Irish parishes will need to adjust to the reality that the declining number of vocations to the priesthood here will mean more African priests taking up the mantle, Ireland’s former papal nuncio has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic as he prepared to leave for his new posting in Albania, Archbishop Charles Brown said that the decline…

Ireland will see its first Blessed in 17 years with the date set for the beatification of Fr John Sullivan SJ in May. The beatification of Fr Sullivan will take place in St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street, Dublin, on Saturday, May 13. Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregations for the Causes of Saints will…

Singer Demi Lovato has thanked God for breaking the curse of addiction in her life. The star took to Instagram to mark five years of sobriety saying she was “so grateful” and she “couldn’t have done it without my higher power (God)”. “It’s been quite the journey. So many ups and downs,” the 24-year-old wrote.…

A charity election campaign that has energised a Wexford parish since January has raised over €72,000 and boosted community spirit, according to a local priest. Describing the ‘Mayor of Barntown’ election as “an election in which everybody has won”, Fr John Carroll told The Irish Catholic a huge debt of gratitude is due to many…

Bishop Denis Nulty has urged more parishes to answer the call of Pope Francis to have a church open for ‘24 Hours for the Lord’, saying “as Church we need to be present more often”. A number of dioceses across the island of Ireland last weekend took part in the worldwide promotion of the Sacrament…

Staff reporter Renua Ireland has announced it is now officially a pro-life political party, with members expected to take a pledge to support a pro-life position. Renua chairman, Michael O’Dowd told The Irish Catholic that a pro-life stance has now become one of the party’s “core principals”. “When the party was founded many people believed…

The Minister for Justice has rejected appeals from publicans to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, saying it would send “mixed messages” in advance of new legislation to address problem drinking. At a meeting with industry lobbyists last November, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the “Government needs to avoid…diluting its key…

Parishes in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois need to prepare for a future without parish priests, Bishop Francis Duffy has warned. In a letter entitled ‘Sustaining our Faith Community’, Dr Duffy said while the diocese currently has 53 clergy serving its 41 parishes, by the time children baptised this year are confirmed the diocese…

Expressions of support for Marie Collins from members of the Vatican’s child protection commission are a “validation” for her position, the former commission member has said. Mrs Collins stepped down last month from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors after almost three months on the body of which she had been a founder…