The acting president of the Christian Solidarity Party has said he is hopeful for a “renewal” of the party ahead of the next general election. Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of the party’s Ard Fheis this weekend, Cathal Ashbourne Loftus said “we hope to get renewal because we are tired and we haven’t achieved…

The father of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Catholic woman facing the death penalty for alleged blasphemy, has filed a High Court petition demanding the right to visit his daughter after being consistently denied access since her 2010 conviction. Sardar Mushtaq Gill, the lawyer for Bibi’s father, Soran Masih, said “It is Masih’s fundamental right to…

Too many people in Ireland are homeless or at risk of homelessness for politicians to be engaged in political point-scoring on the issue, homeless charities have said. Responding to Environment Minister Alan Kelly’s criticisms of local authorities, who he said needed “to step up to the mark” in order to help tackle Ireland’s homelessness crisis,…

The president of the Central African bishops’ conference is one of three religious leaders who has been honoured for promoting interfaith reconciliation in the Central African Republic. Shortly before receiving the 2015 Sergio Vieira De Mello Prize in Geneva, Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui said that the award belonged neither to him nor his fellow…

Family, friends and parishioners gathered at St Malachy’s Church, Kilclief in Co. Down to mark the first anniversary of Fr Colm McGrady, who died in August 2014 having served as parish priest in Strangford and Kilclief since 2008. Fr Brian Donnelly, a classmate of Fr Colm’s, was the celebrant at the Mass and was joined…

Catholics must strive to show mercy toward non-traditional families, according to Chicago’s Archbishop Blase Cupich. Speaking after receiving his pallium from the papal nuncio to the United States, the archbishop described the Church as “a community that goes after the lost sheep”, and said that the task for the Church is “not just to find…

The parish priest of the Co. Meath winner of the Rose of Tralee has said the community is very proud of her achievement. Meath Rose Elysha Brennan (pictured, 22) from Bettystown, was crowned the 56th Rose of Tralee at the international festival in Kerry last week. Fr Denis McNelis, PP of Laytown-Mornington parish, told The…

Pope keeps out of Falklands dispute Pope Francis has no intention of intervening between Britain and Argentina over the Falklands Islands’ disputed ownership, the Vatican’s press office has clarified.  During a general audience on August 19, a group of Argentinians gave Pope Francis a sign reading: “It is time for dialogue between Argentina and the United Kingdom about the Falkland…

Tuam’s Archbishop Michael Neary has congratulated the stewards and handmaids who serve at Knock shrine in a homily marking 80 years of the Knock Shrine Society. Speaking at Mass during the Knock Novena, Dr Neary praised the “sensitive, effective and eloquent presence” of the stewards and handmaids who minister to pilgrims and invalids. The archbishop,…

Thai women religious pray in front of the spot where a bomb was detonated a few days earlier on August 17 at the Bangkok’s Erawan shrine, killing 20 people. The Hindu shrine is also a place of devotion for Thai Buddhists. Photo: CNS