A Congolese bishop has expressed concerns that unless President Joseph Kabila’s government and opposition parties can reconcile their differences, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s upcoming elections will be marred by violence. Kasongo’s Bishop Placide Lubamba Ndjibu of Kasongo said sharp political differences remain between Kabila and his opponents, notably his one-time ally Moise Katumbi,…

President praises Capuchins’ work President Michael D. Higgins praised the work of the Capuchin community with the homeless at a 1916 Rising commemoration event at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. During a service to celebrate the Labour founder James Connolly, President Higgins said the rebel leader and the founders of the Irish Citizen Army…

The Italian government’s approval of a bill granting legal recognition to non-married heterosexual and homosexual couples is a defeat for democracy and family life, a prominent Italian bishop has said. The legislation was passed by the Italian Senate in February after its sponsors removed a clause allowing a non-biological parent in a homosexual union to…

Many Irish doctors too easily accept a caricatured negative take of Church involvement in healthcare, a leading member of the Irish Medical Council (IMC) has said. Criticising media coverage of the governance conflict between the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dr Ruairi Hanley writes in the current issue of The Irish Medical…

The Church is on one frontline against militant ideology, writes Paul Keenan

The Archbishop of Dublin is to become responsible for ethical issues at several Dublin hospitals following a decision by the Sisters of Mercy to transfer ownership of their hospitals to a new body. The sisters have arranged for the canonical and civil transfer of the public and private Mater Misericordiae hospitals, as well as Temple…

Members of the Derry Youth Community handing out flowers to parishioners after the closing ceremony of the Novena to St Thérèse at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry. Photo: Stephen Latimer

Staff reporter The popular Augustinian retreat centre, Orlagh, in Dublin is for sale with an asking price of €2.5 million. The Augustinians have been on the site since 1872 when they acquired the property for use as the novitiate for those who wished to join their ranks. For more than a decade, however, Orlagh has been…

A Cork-based political activist has described as “a complete bolt from the blue” a decision to remove him from Cobh cathedral’s roster of readers because of his membership of the Social Democrats, who advocate the removal of the Eighth (Life Equality) Amendment. Cobh’s onetime Fianna Fáil cumann secretary Ken Curtin learned after Mass on Sunday,…

Hopes have been raised that up to five new Catholic schools could be opened over the next two years. The Irish Catholic can confirm that CEIST, a Catholic schools trust founded by five religious orders, are applying for patronage of up to five of the nine new post primary schools opening next year and in…