To live is to change, according to Italy’s Dr Luigi Bettazzi, retired bishop of Ivrea, who believes this applies to the Church as well as for individuals. “Too often we think upholding tradition is standing firmly on what we have done in the past, when tradition really is to keep moving,” the 92-year-old bishop told…

Pictured at the announcement that Gaisce – the President’s Award – and Irish Girl Guides (IGG) have launched a partnership to encourage young women to reach for the sun, moon and stars were Griff een Valley Rangers Erin McElwee (17), Sarah Connolly (16) and Amy Dunne (16) at Dunsink Observatory in Dublin. Recognising the similarities…

The Diocese of Down and Connor has made an appeal for good quality, low rent accommodation in Belfast for newly arrived refugees. The Diocesan Refugee Response team, appointed by Bishop Noel Treanor, is working closely with officials in Stormont who are making arrangements for a group of some 50-100 refugees expected to arrive before Christmas.…

The Bishop of Maiduguri in Nigeria has appealed for material and financial support so that displaced people and refugees from Boko Haram violence can be helped.  “Security has improved thanks to the efforts of the military who are present here and the attacks of Boko Haram have declined”, Dr Oliver Dash Doeme said, explaining that…

The homelessness crisis is spreading well beyond the capital, a charity at the forefront of helping hard-pressed families has warned. According to Focus Ireland’s Roughan MacNamara there are now a constant number of between 70 and 80 families in Dublin becoming homeless every month, and, he warned, “this situation is starting to develop in other…

“Everyone should have access to health care and health coverage”, America’s bishops have said in a submission to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, describing as “a laudable statutory goal” the prevention of sex discrimination in health programmes and activities.  However, the comments filed by the General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of…

“It will change the way of life here in the short term, but God only knows what the longer term is going to be.”

Congregation denies mismanaging property The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples has denied accusations of cronyism in renting out properties in Rome. Responding to news reports that Vatican-owned apartments were rented far below market value, with several owned by the congregation being rented at nominal rates to politicians, entertainers and Vatican employees’ relations, the congregation issued a statement…

Former Taoiseach John Bruton said the Government should have given the issue of same-sex marriage more thought before pushing ahead with a referendum. Mr Bruton said he felt more time should have been given to look at the effects of same-sex marriage on children. Speaking on Newstalk’s Moncrieff show on the day of Ireland’s first…