Dioceses across the island of Ireland have begun to ask parishes to provide feedback on the Lineamenta discussion document from last year’s extraordinary synod on the family, in order to collate a report from the Irish Church in advance of the second session of the bishops’ synod in October. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, who…

Staff reporter Parish priest of Knock Fr Richard Gibbons has said he is “delighted” by the return of transatlantic flights to the airport there. The first transatlantic service to Ireland West Airport in almost eight years will take place in August following the announcement of a transatlantic pilgrimage flight from New York. In what Fr…

England’s Portsmouth diocese has announced a radical new evangelisation plan in line with Pope Francis’ call in Evangelii Gaudium to consider the renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion. Speaking in a video message, Bishop Philip Egan said the challenge for the diocese was to “move from maintenance to mission”, and as such it would…

Focus on humanity is the key

Responsible freedom of expression requires respect for others’ feelings, says Pope “One cannot kill in the name of God”, said Pope Francis, answering a question on balancing freedom of religion and freedom of expression while he was flying from Sri Lanka to the Philippines. Describing both as “fundamental human rights”, he stressed that the principle point about religious liberty is that “One has freedom in…

Irish Jews have said they are not overly concerned about safety despite rising fears of anti-semitic violence across Europe. Maurice Cohen, Chairman of the Jewish Representative Council told The Irish Catholic that while it should be “obvious to anyone observing events in the last number of weeks that there has been an increase in concerns in…

The founder of iCatholic Fr Bill Kemmy has said he hopes the websites’ new talk-show ‘A Question of Faith’ will be “interesting and informative” for viewers who tune in. The half hour discussion programme, presented by Wendy Grace, is available online now. The first in the series features a discussion on the value of Catholic…

At a service organised by the Dublin Council of Churches (DCC) for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road, Dublin 4 (Church of Ireland) are: Yvonne Langebach (Lutheran), Abba Yohannes Amsalu (Ethiopian Orthodox), Rev. John Parkin (Methodist), Major Gillian Dicker (Salvation Army), Fr Fachtna McCarthy, (parish priest of Haddington…

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, published this week, is a weak and disappointing bill that ignores important recommendations from the Oireachtas Environment Committee, according to Trócaire. Éamonn Meehan, Trócaire’s Executive Director, says “time is not a luxury we have in tackling the impacts of climate change”, pointing out that climate change is…

A new initiative which aims to encourage young women to explore whether they might be called to religious life will be launched at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh early next month. Known as the ‘Rise of the Roses’, the movement aims to support and inspire young women as they explore and discern their vocations in life,…