Move comes after criticism of earlier ‘outrageous’ motion The Dáil is set to debate a full motion condemning the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, The Irish Catholic has learned. Just weeks after the failure of politicians to include Christians in a motion attacking the treatment of Iraq’s Yazidi minority by so-called Islamic…
The founder of social media giant Facebook has asserted the importance of faith in a Christmas message to followers. The previously avowed atheist took to social media over the festive period to wish one and all a “Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah”, prompting one viewer to pose the question: “Aren’t you an atheist?” Zuckerberg was…
The head of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) has defended the “core role” of religion in faith schools amid renewed suggestions that Religious Education could be side-lined in a curriculum shake-up. With the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment consultation ongoing towards a new primary curriculum, reports over the Christmas period suggested that…
Immediate action is needed to protect families at risk of losing their homes through repossession, following comments from the Master of the High Court, leading campaigners have urged. Edmund Honohan, who has previously called on the Government to ‘nationalise’ repossessed homes and use them as social housing, said this week that thousands of repossession orders…
Limerick city has been lauded as an exemplar of “active nonviolence” during New Year peace messages. As Irish bishops issued homilies for the 50th World Day of Peace on January 1, and after a year of extreme gangland violence in some quarters, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick hailed the role of nonviolence in a renewed…
‘Zero tolerance’ is key to child protection in the Irish Church and should not be confused with how priests are handled when out of ministry, the sole Irish member of Pope Francis’ child protection commission has said. Commenting on the Pope’s call to bishops on the Feast of the Holy Innocents for the Church to…
The leaders of Ireland’s main Christian denominations have joined in praying for a year in which people remember both God and neighbour. In a joint New Year’s message, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Rt Rev John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Rev. Bill Mullally, President…
The footballer responsible for a spectacular ‘scorpion kick’ goal during a New Year’s game in the English premier league has said God helped him to carry off the near-impossible shot to bring his team to victory. Playing with Arsenal in the January 1 face-off against south London’s Crystal Palace, French international Olivier Giroud made the…
Pope gives green light in strict circumstances In a dramatic move, Pope Francis has given the green light for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion under certain limited circumstances after they discuss the matter with their priest. Even then, the couple most likely will have to receive Communion in private so as not to…
In a joint message for Holy Week and Easter, the two archbishops of Armagh have asked that all Christian will “show something of the immeasurable mercy of God” in their daily lives. In the message, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Richard Clarke point out that while this is a particular Year of Mercy in the…
Paul Keenan
Greg Daly