The popular live animal crib will return to Dublin’s Mansion House, the Lord Mayor of Dublin announced, after public backlash to a decision to cancel the live crib last year. Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste acknowledged the importance of the Christmas tradition, saying on November 9 that the live crib is a “huge part of”…
The Christian population of the town of Jesus’s birth, Bethlehem, is feeling depressed and despondent as they endure a collapse in their economic and security situation as a result of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. So severe is the economic situation in Bethlehem, that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem felt compelled to single…
A Chinese bishop who was appointed last April against the wishes of the Vatican has renewed his commitment to implement the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s programme of religious sinicisation in his diocese. Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai made his comments in an interview with the state news agency, China News Service. “Sinicisation is a directional issue:…
Cardinal Brady launches history of Drogheda religious Cardinal Sean Brady launched a new DVD about the various religious around the Drogheda area, Co. Louth, entitled Life is Changed, Not Ended. The DVD was initially conceived to recognise the impact of various religious communities in Drogheda especially in areas of education, social justice, healthcare, youth and…
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda recently expressed his concern to the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the war being fought between Israel and Hamas could spread throughout the Middle East. Archbishop Warda, a native of Iraq and the archbishop of Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, fears that…
Inviting priests from the Church in developing parts of the world to maintain the status quo in Irish parishes and to cope with the vocations crisis is “selfish” a liturgical expert has warned. Spiritan priest Prof. Tom Whelan also warned that pastoral plans that have no greater vision than replacing Sunday Mass with ceremonies with…
A leading expert on the Pope’s worldwide consultation of Catholics on the future of the Church has criticised former president Mary McAleese for her reaction to the process. Prof. Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology at Villanova University in the US, was speaking after Mrs McAleese expressed the view that the document from the month-long first…
The Bishop of Derry has warned that a question asked in the recently published Good Relations Indicator report conducted by the Executive Office regarding mixed education, was “simplistic” and received a “simplistic answer, which doesn’t move us forward”. People were asked whether they “would prefer mixed religion neighbourhoods, workplaces, and schools”. The responses were: 89% of adult…
The “unprecedented” level of vacant teaching posts in primary and special schools is the “greatest challenge facing primary schools”, a Catholic schools’ body have warned. The crisis is “so grave that a ‘whole of Government’ approach is warranted” said Seamus Mulconry, Secretary General of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA). His comments come after…
US actor and comedian, Rob Schneider, well-known for his multiple roles in films such as 50 First Dates and Grown Ups, took to social media to announce his conversion to Catholicism. Mr Schneider made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) while thanking people for the messages he received celebrating his 60th birthday. “At 60 you…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady