Staff Reporter A priest who celebrated a Mass at which a gay flag was draped across the altar has refused to speak about the event. Jesuit Fr Fergus O’Donoghue presided at the liturgy in Dublin’s Avila Carmelite Centre at the weekend. The Mass included a delegation from the United States led by Sr Jeannine Gramick, who…

Uruguayan Church’s ‘pain and shame’ at unpunished abuse Uruguay’s bishops have apologised for sexual abuses committed by priests 20 years ago that went unpunished because the country’s statute of limitations expired. A statement on the website of the South American country’s bishops’ conference says the Uruguayan Church feels “pain and shame” about “abhorrent acts committed by people who had promised to serve…

The Irish bishops’ overseas aid agency has criticised Europe’s response to the refugee crisis, as several hundred people are reported to have drowned off the coast of Egypt on Sunday. Up to 500 people are estimated to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea trying to illegally cross from Libya to Italy. This latest tragedy coincides…

Nigerian bishops have urged the government to hasten its efforts to free 219 schoolgirls who were abducted by insurgents two years ago. Bishops Matthew Audu of Lafia and George Dodo of Zaria called on officials to boost intelligence gathering efforts and muster the political will to find the girls, who in April 2014 were taken…

Kilmore diocesan Masses to commemorate 1916 Rising The centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be marked at Masses in parishes throughout the Diocese of Kilmore over this weekend. The liturgy will be a special liturgy of remembrance, reflection and prayer to mark the anniversary of the Rebellion which started 100 years ago on this weekend (April 24). Two men who…

Catholic voters in the UK should approach the coming referendum on withdrawal from the European Union not merely as an economic question, but in light of what would best serve the common good, the bishops of England and Wales have said. The outcome of the referendum “will have consequences for the future not only of…

Former Tipperary hurler and manager Fr Tom Fogarty has said he fails to see how fans could “justify” being entertained by Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) following the shocking death of one of the sport’s rising stars. Joao Carvalho, a 28-year-old Portuguese MMA fighter, died in Dublin where he suffered head injuries competing at the Total…

A Canadian government bill to legalise euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide has been opposed by the country’s bishops, who have called it “an affront to human dignity, an erosion of human solidarity and a danger to all vulnerable persons”. Among those endangered by the bill, the bishops said, are the elderly, infirm, disabled and sick, many…

The Bishop of Raphoe has compared a rural parish losing a priest to losing essential services such as a post office or a Garda station. Bishop Philip Boyce celebrated his 50th anniversary of joining the priesthood at a Mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny at the weekend. Speaking to the Donegal Democrat ahead of…

Philippine Catholics should pray the Rosary each day until the May 9 elections, the country’s bishops have said. On behalf of the national bishops’ conference, Lingayen-Dagupan’s Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued a statement reminding voters of the power of prayer. “Pray the mysteries of joy, light, sorrow and glory every day, until May 9,” he said.…