Fr Kevin Smith, the former Norbertine abbot who was responsible for covering up the abuses of the notorious Fr Brendan Smyth has been removed from ministry following an allegation made against him of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman. The Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, Co. Cavan, confirmed to The Irish Catholic this week that the…

First John Paul II Festival taking place in Knock Shrine

Sean Kelly MEP said future of Christians in many countries is at stake

Annual Diocesan Mass for the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association

Thailand – As severe flooding continues to affect areas across the country, the Catholic bishops of Thailand have increased funds made available through the Church’s emergency relief office.According to reports in the country, since the onset of heavy rains in July, 28 provinces of a total of 77 have been adversely affected, with people requiring…

Hundreds of secondary school students expected at third annual Spiritan Youth Day

Poland – The Catholic bishops of the country has offered an official apology for the abuse of children by predatory clerics. Insisting that the modern Church has made progress in ensuring the safety of children, the bishops stated: “We apologise for those clergy who have harmed children and are doing everything in our power so…

Pope Francis has been lauded for his efforts on behalf of migrants by the head of the world’s leading inter-governmental organisation working on their behalf. During an audience with the Pontiff this week, William Lacy Swing, director general of the International Organisation for Migration paid tribute to “the first Pope to visit Lampedusa” and hailed…

Spain – The Church has beatified 522 martyrs who lost their lives during the countryís civil war. The event took place on October 13 in the eastern city of Tarragona and involved the elevations of 515 Spaniards, three French, and a citizen from Cuba, Colombia, the Philippines and Portugal. Several thousand priests, monks and nuns…

The head of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has called on member countries of the European Union to act together in solving the dangerous realities for migrants taking great risks to reach Europe. During an October 10 meeting with the European Commission’s President José Manuel Barroso…