Images depicting Noah’s Ark and Moses’ parting of the Red Sea have been uncovered at an ancient synagogue in Galilee. The mosaic images are the latest find in a long-term excavation taking place at the 5th-Century Huqoq synagogue. The site is already famous among archaeologists for the wealth of its mosaics, with images of beasts…
The actor Kelsey Grammer has spoken out strongly against abortion. Openly pro-life, the star, best known for his role as comical psychiatrist Frasier spoke during an interview with The Times newspaper of his sense of anger at the language employed to justify abortion. “It gets a bit dishonest to call something reproductive rights when you…
The Catholic Bishops of Malawi have signalled a growing threat of famine in the country. In an appeal to the international community for help for six million citizens already affected by food insecurity, the prelates said: “Our hospitals are already reporting higher rates of malnutrition cases with the situation feared to worsen as we approach…
The L’Arche community, working with people with intellectual disabilities, has thanked the people of Sligo for its many years of support for its work in the town. As the group recently donated a cheque to the value of €149,522 to create an annual bursary to send Sligo students on retreat with Jean Vanier and to…
A Coptic Orthodox nun has died after she was accidently caught in a gunfight between rival factions in Egypt. Sister Atahanasia was being driven with two other nuns on the road between Cairo and Alexandria when her car was struck by fire. Suspicions of a terrorist attack were quickly dismissed by investigating officers who revealed…
Loreto sisters want to keep working
A leading theologian has called for “systematic reflection” on the implications of the Pope’s ground-breaking document on the family, insisting that there is no need for further guidelines on the subject. Prof. Eamon Conway of Mary Immaculate College in Limerick told The Irish Catholic that “there is a need for systematic reflection on the pastoral…
Vatican employees convicted in Vatileaks II trial Two Vatican officials have been convicted for their parts in the so-called Vatileaks II scandal. Facing a Vatican tribunal for their roles in passing confidential documents to journalists, Msgr Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his part in the leak, while Francesca Chaouqui, a consultant at the Vatican, was…
The Pope’s representative in Ireland has urged young people to “shout” about their faith from the rooftops. Speaking at the Youth 2000 Summer Festival which was attended by more than 1,200 teenagers at the weekend, Archbishop Charles Brown encouraged young Catholics to “be courageous”. “Don’t be afraid to pray. Don’t be afraid to show your…
Fr Warren Collier (second from left) pictured after being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Meath on Sunday in St Mary’s Parish, Drogheda. Pictured are (l-r) Fr Phil Gaffney (PP St Mary’s Drogheda), Fr Collier, Bishop Michael Smith and Fr John Breen (vice-rector of the Pontifical Beda College in Rome).
Paul Keenan
Courtney McGrail
Cathal Barry