The Pontiff’s US trip proved he is a master strategist, writes Michael W. Higgins

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has criticised the Government for failing to implement fully sepsis in pregnancy guidelines more than two years after the death of Savita Halappanavar.  PLC Deputy Chairperson Cora Sherlock told The Irish Catholic “the fact that to this day sepsis guidelines are still not properly in place shows that ideology trumps safety…

Bishop Ray Browne of the Diocese of Kerry has launched ‘Celebrating the Funeral Liturgy’, a resource for parishes and people preparing the funeral of a loved one. It is an amended version of a resource used throughout the diocese. This new version contains an explanation of the Christian symbols used in the funeral liturgy, a wide…

This year’s Christmas stamp from An Post features a beautiful detail of the Madonna and Child by Marco Palmezzano, courtesy of the National Gallery and designed by Vermillion Design.  The latest date for posting standard mail for Ireland is December 21, Europe is December 19, USA on December 11 and the rest of the world…

This week the Church of Ss Peter and Paul’s Clonmel launched a new CD performed by the parish choir and organ at a function in the Parochial House. The idea for the CD came from parishioner and local businessman, Willie Nagle. In wishing the project every success, Canon Brendan Crowley PP said: “The Church of…

The PSNI has advised parishes to take steps to prevent the theft of lead from church rooftops after a spate of recent robberies in Derry city.  The theft of a large quantity of lead from the flat porch roof of St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, was discovered when workmen went to repair a leak in…

It is “a big lie” to suggest Islamic State could be defeated with airstrikes, according to the head of the Syriac Catholic Church, who has accused Western governments of betraying Christians in the Middle East. “All Eastern patriarchs, myself included, have spoken out clearly to the West from the very beginning,” Syriac Patriarch Ignace Joseph…

Online Advent calendar launched Archbishop Eamon Martin has launched a specially commissioned 2015 Advent calendar on the homepage of the Irish Catholic bishops’ website www.catholicbishops.ie to coincide with the beginning of Advent on Sunday, November 29. The online calendar will each day reveal Advent information and prayer resources, including an audio thought for the day, by clicking on a virtual…

Vincentians call for end of APEC More than 500 protesters in Manila, including dozens of Catholic religious and other Christians, have called for the abolition of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. On the 21-country summit’s last day, protestors gathered and cried, “junk-junk APEC!” over and over.  “I represent the Church stance of calling our leaders of our country not…

Staff reporter Ruairí Quinn was “clearly wrong” to propose abolishing religion classes from primary schools when he was minister for education, former Taoiseach John Bruton has said. Mr Bruton also said it was erroneous to attribute falling education standards to the 30 minutes-per-day spent teaching children religion.  The former Fine Gael leader said religious instruction was…