Church must take workers’ problems seriously, Pope says All workers should feel welcomed by the Church and know that their needs and problems are taken seriously, Pope Francis said. In fact, labour and employment are experiencing “a phase of transformation that needs to be accompanied,” he told members of Italy’s Movement of Christian Workers during…
Family Solidarity criticises ‘disappointing’ synodal pathway The Irish national synodal synthesis “does not represent us and it does not represent what we have heard at the meetings in our parishes”, Irish family advocacy group Family Solidarity has written in an open letter to Ireland’s bishops. “After a year, we must admit that both the process…
A plea by Pope Francis for a Christmas clemency for prisoners has been hailed as “powerful and courageous” by an Irish nun who has dedicated her life to supporting prisoners and their families. In a letter to governments around the world – including Ireland – the Pontiff this week asked for a gesture of mercy…
Fans pray for Pelé’s recovery More than a hundred Santos Soccer Club fans gathered in front of the hospital in Brazil where Pelé, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, is undergoing treatment, to pray for his recovery. The ACESSA.com website reported that fans formed a circle, lit candles, held hands, and prayed…
Catholic schools have dominated a poll of top performing schools in the North, taking the top three spots and five out of the top 10. St Mary’s Grammar School, Magherafelt, Co. Derry, took top spot for the second year running in the 30th edition of The Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ poll, which identifies the highest-achieving…
We will always need “good and holy priests”, the head of the bishops’ council for vocations has said, adding that the lay ministry is not a solution to the vocations crisis. The national synodal synthesis came across as proposing the lay ministry as the “solution to the whole question” of priest shortages, said Bishop Alphonsus…
Peru’s bishops called for national unity and urged citizens to stand up for democracy and the rule of law as the president closed Congress and was subsequently impeached and arrested. In a statement December 7, the bishops’ conference said it “emphatically and absolutely rejects the rupture in the constitutional order. The defence of democracy is…
Speaking at a press conference just before England’s exit from the world cup at France’s hands, 23-year-old footballer Bukayo Saka spoke of the importance of keeping your eyes fixed on God. “I read my Bible every night, I’ve been continuing to do that out here. For me, it is really important to have the presence of…
Christmas this year marks the first time in its history that the European Parliament has allowed a Nativity scene to be set up at its headquarters in Brussels. Until now, officials of the European institution had considered it “potentially offensive.” The efforts of Isabel Benjumea, a member in the EU’s House of Representatives from Spain,…
A top court in the southern Indian state of Kerala has ordered police protection for the apostolic administrator of an archdiocese in the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, which is embroiled in a bitter liturgical dispute. The High Court of Kerala granted the request December 5 in a lawsuit by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, administrator of the…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady