Nearly 200 children who were either known to child protection services or in State care have died over the past decade, 38 of whom died by suicide, according to statistics released to Aontú. Aontú spokesperson on Children and Equality, Luke Silke, said: “These are shocking figures. Nearly 200 children who were either in State care or known to child protection services…
The Vatican’s liturgy czar has intervened against the implementation of resolutions of the German ‘Synodal Way’ that demand laypeople should be able to regularly baptise and preach the homily at Mass in churches across Germany. In a letter to the German Bishops’ Conference president dated March 29, Cardinal Arthur Roche said neither was possible –…
The Minister for Education has defended a divestment pilot scheme conducted jointly with the Irish bishops, which involves 63 schools. “The pilot covers 63 different schools and there is no doubt that it has reaped benefits in some areas,” Minister Norma Foley said in the Dáil. “The basis of the pilot is that everybody is…
Pope Francis has appointed a key expert on Catholic education as the new Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. Meath priest Fr Paul Connell is currently executive secretary for education for the bishops’ conference based in Maynooth. He has served on the staff of St Finian’s College since 1982, and was appointed president and principal there…
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ, the archbishop of Luxembourg and a key leader of the Synod on Synodality, said the Catholic Church’s teaching on a male-only priesthood is not infallible and a future pope could allow women priests. The cardinal, 64, addressed the topic of the ordination of women, homosexuality, women in the Church, obedience to…
Pope Francis has appointed Fr Paul Connell of the diocese of Meath as the new bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. The appointment was announced this morning (Wednesday) by Msgr Julien Kaboré, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland. Bishop-elect Connell (65) takes up the role after it was left vacant by Archbishop Francis Duffy’s…
Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital tomorrow (Saturday) if his condition continues to improve, the Vatican has said. The 86-year-old Pontiff was hospitalised on Wednesday after reportedly saying he had chest pain and difficulties breathing. He was diagnosed with bronchitis which is being treated by antibiotics. Doctors have ruled out…
Fewer than one in ten Mass-going Irish Catholics have participated in the much talked about synod process, according to new research. When it comes to younger Catholics (those under 35), just 6% of those who say they regularly go to Mass availed of the opportunity to become involved in the process which many Church leaders…
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has insisted that the Government must give assurance to Catholic parents that their right to choose a Catholic school for their children will be fully respected. He warned that parents’ right to choose a school with a Catholic ethos must be an integral part of the discussion around diversity of…
A group of more than 200 Protestant pastors have written to the Government urging it to stop plans to expose Junior Certificate students to pornographic content and to teach what they describe as “transgender ideology” in primary schools. The pastors warn that the proposals would increase “the numbers of broken and damaged individuals we already…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly