Pope Francis has confirmed that the United States government intends to close its controversial detention centre at Guantanamo Bay. Speaking at his annual address to the diplomatic corps, he said: “I note with satisfaction the intention of the United States to close the Guantanamo detention facilities, while acknowledging the generous willingness of several countries to…

Staff reporter Controversial cleric Fr Tony Flannery has said he would be “surprised” if his case was discussed at a high-profile meeting of Vatican officials in Hungary this week. The outspoken priest, who was suspended from ministry in 2012, said he would be “very happy” if Irish bishops attending the key meeting raised his case. He…

Pope Francis has expressed his sympathy to those bereaved by last week’s terror attack at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.  A telegram from Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, said Pope Francis “joins in prayer with the pain of the bereaved families and the…

As incidents of racism increase, Irish parishes are urged to be more welcoming

The late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero was a martyr, a panel of theologians advising the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes has ruled, unanimously declaring he was killed “in hatred for the Faith”. As a miracle is not needed for the beatification of a martyr, the decision is an important step towards the beatification of the…

New charity laws here which require dioceses and parishes to publish financial reports will bring greater transparency to the sector, the head of an agency charged with policing the laws here has said. Úna Ní Dhubhghaill, Chief Executive Designate of the Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) told The Irish Catholic the new laws present a “real…

Mexico’s Cardinal-designate Alberto Suarez Inda had planned to retire as archbishop of the crime-ravaged diocese of Morelia, but in May was asked by Pope Francis “to wait, to endure, to resist”, he has revealed in an interview, adding that he had never expected to be appointed cardinal. One of five bishops who signed a statement…

Fr John Quinn baptising Lucy Drew Quinn, daughter of Jamie and Enda Quinn, Longford who was one of the first children to be baptised in St Mel’s Cathedral since it re-opened in December following a five-year rebuilding project. Photo: Tiernan Dolan

As many as 2,000 people have been killed and several churches burned in Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria since the January 3 capture of the military base at Baga, on the Chad border. Amnesty International say most of those killed were women, children and the elderly, with about 30,000 people having fled. Agenzia Fides reports…

A Mass is being held in Dublin next week to mark the first anniversary of the tragic death of Tom O’Gorman, a well-known Catholic activist. His friends have organised an anniversary Mass at 3pm on Saturday, January 24 in Our Lady Mother of the Church, Castleknock, where Tom served for many years as a Minister…