The decision by the Council of Europe to call for full compliance regarding human rights in proposed legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles has been welcomed by a well-known human rights professor in Belfast. Professor Colin Harvey, Director of the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University Belfast told The Irish Catholic that the…
There is “delight” following the decision by the Irish bishops to recommend that 30% of parish grounds be returned to nature by 2030. Jane Mellett, the Laudato Si’ Officer of Trócaire, said that the announcement by the bishops after their spring meeting directly responds to the call of Pope Francis. She said that for parishes…
The pastoral style of Pope Francis’ has laid down the challenge for Ireland to go the peripheries, Bishop Paul Dempsey has said. Pope Francis celebrated the tenth anniversary of his election to papacy on Monday, March 13. The bishop of Achonry told The Irish Catholic that the Pope has “very profoundly reached out to the…
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that his department will consider how best to “most effectively” continue Ireland’s work on freedom of religion and belief in light of the findings of the Church in Chains Global Guide’s contents and findings. Church in Chains recently launched their 4th Global Guide which lists 60 countries where 200 million Christians…
A homeless charity has decried the fact 4,741 people were given notices to leave their rented accommodation in the summer of last year, following data provided by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The charity Depaul believes that while the Government’s decision to end the eviction ban should be reversed, now the consequences of the decision must…
Bishop Fleming welcomes Ukrainians to plant 500 trees Bishop of Killala John Fleming welcomed members of the Ukrainian community for the planting of 500 trees to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Bishop Fleming said he was delighted to welcome them, adding that “their lives have been uprooted and they have put down roots in…
The German Synodal Way has voted to adopt “implementation texts” related to same-sex blessings, lay preaching during Mass, and a request for Pope Francis to re-examine the discipline of priestly celibacy in the Latin-rite Catholic Church. The votes took place during the first two days of the fifth synodal assembly in Frankfurt, Germany. The assembly…
All 26 Irish dioceses have now been awarded or are in the process of finalising Covid-19 insurance claims arising out of a loss of vital weekly donations when parishes were ordered to shut by the Government during the pandemic. The Irish Catholic understands that a number of dioceses, including Ferns, Cork and Ross and Cloyne…
Music legend Nick Cave has opened up about the role faith has had in dealing with grief after the death of his son Arthur (15) in 2015 and then the death of a second son Jethro (31) last year. Regarding his recent book, which is made up of conversations with music journalist Sean O’Hagan, Faith,…
Catholic campaigners and charities have been critical of Government plans to end the ban on evictions at the end of this month. Speaking Monday night on Upfront with Katie Hannon, veteran advocate for the homeless Fr Peter McVerry said he’s increasingly coming to see the Government as being on the side of “the owners of…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones