The founder of the Legion of Mary stands “as a model of robust lay leadership in the Church” according to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Speaking at Mass in the parish of St Peter’s in Phibsborough, which was followed by the dedication of a room in honour of Frank Duff, Archbishop Martin said the “lack of trust…

Britain will soon debate assisted suicide, writes Paul Keenan

A leading Irish bishop has said he would welcome a “pastoral solution” which would allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin told The Irish Catholic he would support such a solution provided it was in keeping with the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Responding to the challenges…

Philadelphia seminary sees record number of new entrants St Charles Borromeo seminary in Philadelphia has received its largest class of seminarians in a decade, with 20 of the 52 seminarians coming from the Archdiocese of Philadephia alone.  The rise in numbers is all more striking since it comes before the archdiocese, home to 1.5 million Catholics, launches a major new initiative to…

Staff Reporter The fastest man on the planet has said he feels “blessed” after winning his third 100m world title. Usain Bolt took to social media site Twitter to give thanks after narrowly beating rival Justin Gatlin to the gold medal in the 100m final of the IAAF World Championships at the weekend. The Jamaican sprinter…

Islamic State militants in Syria have stepped up their onslaught on the country’s religious diversity and history with the destruction of an ancient pagan temple and a Christian monastery. The first-century AD temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra was destroyed on August 23, according to Syria’s head of antiquities Maamoun Abdulkarim, although the Britain-based Syrian Observatory…

Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) is calling on parishes and faith communities throughout Ireland to observe Creation Time by holding climate justice services and events between September 1 and October 4. Creation Time, which is celebrated every year by churches throughout the world, is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the mystery of Creation and the…

Although the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone is largely contained, its effects continue to be felt, according to Makeni’s Bishop Henry Aruna. “Our biggest sorrow is the aftermath of Ebola,” said Dr Aruna, explaining that the country’s Church plays a key role in caring for orphans and others left suffering after the epidemic which killed…

Diversifying patronage in the Irish education system could lead to segregation and exclusion, according to the chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. Dublin Mid-West Labour TD Joanna Tuffy told The Irish Catholic that in her view, “increasing diversity is not a good approach as it doesn’t cater for villages, and…

Egypt’s Catholic Church has welcomed new anti-terrorism laws, but urged the country’s government against violating personal freedoms. “Recent bomb attacks have shown terrorism is a major problem here, so we really need strong laws to help the police and Interior Ministry combat it,” according to Fr Hani Bakhoum Kiroulos, patriarchal vicar of the Coptic Catholic…