The Catholic Difference George Weigel In the apostolic letter Ad Theologiam Promovendam (To Promote Theology), issued by Pope Francis on Nov. 1, 2023, the Church was urged to do theology contextually: as the motu proprio put it, theology must be “fundamentally contextual…capable of reading and interpreting the Gospel in the conditions in which men and…
Category: News
Priest warns Christian plight ‘ignored’ in Nigeria following Christmas killings
A Nigerian priest based in Ireland has warned that embattled Christians in Nigeria have been “left alone to survive” by the international community, following attacks over Christmas that left almost 200 dead and hundreds more injured. The attacks on 20 Christian villages in Plateau state started on Saturday, December 23 and continued into Christmas day.…
‘Baggage free’ youth hunger for faith say college chaplains
College chaplaincies have seen “rapid growth” since Covid as young people are “hungry” for faith, college chaplains have said. Growth of college chaplaincies has been “exponential” on campuses across the island of Ireland, with many seeing thousands of students coming through their doors each week, chaplains told The Irish Catholic. While Census 2022 highlighted that…
Priest praises bumper turnout for Christmas Masses this year
Many parishes across Ireland saw packed churches this Christmas as people turned out in droves to celebrate the birth of Christ. This followed calls from priests and prelates across the country in early December for people to use the festive period to encourage their friends and neighbours who have been away from the sacraments, to…
Archbishop Martin decries ‘shocking’ modern warfare in Gaza
Archbishop Eamon Martin has decried the “shocking” example of modern warfare in Gaza in his message for World Day of Peace. Reflecting on Pope Francis’ message highlighting the “serious ethical questions related to the armaments sector”, particularly the weaponisation of artificial intelligence, the archbishop of Armagh said “we must not lose sight of the shocking…
AI poses ‘grave risks’ Pope says in Peace Day message
Carol Glatz All forms of artificial intelligence should be used to alleviate human suffering, promote integral development and help end wars and conflicts, not increase inequality and injustice in the world, Pope Francis said in his message for World Peace Day 2024. “Artificial intelligence ought to serve our best human potential and our highest aspirations,…
Dialogue at Catholic college ‘opaque, disquieting’ say staff
Staff at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) have criticised the “long, disquieting” and “opaque” dialogue process with University of Limerick (UL), which has ground to a halt. MIC staff are now questioning if the college is in a weaker position than at the start of the dialogue process. The comments come in response to revelations that…
The Pope’s 2023: A year of health challenges, travel and the synod
Cindy Wooden Pope Francis’ 2023 was a year of important trips made or postponed, a predecessor’s funeral and his own 10th anniversary as Pope, a call to the world to act on climate change and a call to the Church to strengthen its mission by learning “synodality”. The Argentine pope, who was born on December…
Francis’s company at St Mary Major captures contrasts and contradictions of papal history
Pope Francis revealed his intention to be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major, reflecting his intense personal devotion to Mary and the famed icon of Salus Populi Romani contained in its Borghese chapel. Francis thus will become the sixth pontiff to be interred in the basilica, joining Pius V, Sixtus V, Paul V, Clement IX…
US basketballer chooses Christ along with his children
Former NBA star Devin Harris recently revealed in an interview with US magazine The Atlantic that he and his three children converted to Catholicism. The move seems to have come following an academic interest in the Catholic Faith, with many commentators noting that Mr Harris’s university thesis was on the famous 15th Century Dominican friar,…

George Weigel
Chai Brady

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John L. Allen Jr.
