Bishop Alan McGuckian has called for the release of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and Catholic Jimmy Lai, who has been imprisoned for nearly three years. The bishop of Raphoe, along with nine other bishops from eight countries, signed a petition calling on the “government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to immediately and unconditionally release…
The Catholic Schools’ Trustee Service (CSTS) has called on people to express their concerns and engage in the Department of Education’s Relationships and Sexuality Education consultation, which will impose ideological views on abortion. The CSTS asked those concerned to respond to the department’s consultation before it closes on November 24. The CSTS believes that the legislation brought…
The Colombian Bishops’ Conference has thanked God for the release of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of the Liverpool footballer, Luis Díaz, who was held captive for nearly two weeks by the rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN). “We thank God for the release of Mr Luis Díaz! Already with him are Francisco Ceballos, bishop…
Hope Ireland held a conference on Saturday afternoon in Dublin which saw medical professionals speak out against euthanasia and in favour of strengthening Ireland’s palliative care. It was held against the backdrop of the ongoing Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying which is considering whether to introduce euthanasia and assisted suicide. All members of the…
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…
Ruadhán Jones