Darren Butler, National Coordinator of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI), has spoken of a renewed interest in taking the pledge to abstain from alcohol and drugs at Sacrament of Confirmation ceremonies. The work of the IBDI is to mobilise parish communities to work in partnership with other service providers as a pastoral response to…
The Vatican on Monday reaffirmed its opposition to sex changes, gender theory and surrogate parenthood, as well as abortion and euthanasia, four months after supporting blessings for same-sex couples. The Vatican’s doctrinal office (DDF) released the ‘Dignitas infinita’ (Infinite dignity) declaration following fierce conservative pushback, especially in Africa, against its document on LGBT issues. There is no…
The story that came to light in recent weeks about the woman from Limerick who almost died after undergoing an abortion is something that could have been avoided if senior members of government had listened to pro-life TDs and accepted the amendments they proposed prior to the passage of the new abortion law in 2018.…
Kamran Chaudhry Arif Masih still remembers the day he was left speechless after finding that tons of radishes on his smallholding had started withering last August. “At first, I thought the radishes were dying due to the August heat. But, I discovered someone had sprayed poisonous chemicals on them. The radishes died one…
Dublin diocese is set to get a second auxiliary bishop, after Pope Francis announced Bishop Paul Dempsey will move from his position in Achonry as part of seismic changes in the Church in Ireland. Bishop Dempsey takes on the role of auxiliary alongside Bishop-elect Donal Roche, whose appointment was only announced last month.
As four dioceses in the West merge, the Papal Nuncio to Ireland said the seismic changes were needed to meet “new challenges” facing the Church, “pooling resources” to increase vitality.
Pope Francis has announced monumental changes to the leadership of dioceses in the West of Ireland in a move that has long been expected, but has come suddenly. There will now only be three bishops in the whole of the West ecclesiastical province of Tuam after the biggest shake-ups of dioceses for almost 1,000 years.…
An escalation between Israel and Iran has been considered a possible scenario since the beginning of the Gaza war. Following the killing of high-ranking Iranian military personnel by the Israelis, Tehran has now threatened to retaliate. Jerusalem (KNA): Following threats from Iran, Israel has strengthened its air defence and called up reservists. In addition, weekend…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady Dozens of adults and young people were welcomed into the Church in Ireland over Easter weekend, with parishes praising the “great signs” of hope these conversions bring for local communities. Many of the new converts are young people who have come to Ireland to make their home and through the…
The scenes of young people carrying petrol bombs during a parade in Derry on Easter Monday were “sad and shocking”, highlighting how the young are “groomed” for violence, a prominent peace priest has warned. Police said they saw evidence of youths preparing petrol bombs before an illegal dissident republican parade in Creggan, Co. Derry, on…
Brandon Scott
Eilis Mulroy
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady