The New York state Legislature passed a bill that replaces the words “mother” and “father” in some state laws with gender-neutral language, a move that New York’s bishops say will further “muddy what is true and good.” The bill, passed by the state Assembly in March and by the state Senate on June 2, now…
Category: News
Ahead of runoff, Church concerned about political violence in Colombia
Colombia’s highly polarised presidential election has become a source of concern for the nation’s Catholic Church, which has released a number of statements during the process in an effort to steer Catholics away from the paths of violence and irrationality. The upcoming runoff, scheduled for June 21, will pit right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella…
Pope Leo welcomes statement from Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales for Day of Life
The Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales published a joint statement for the 2026 ‘Day for Life’, which will take place on June 21. The statement is titled, The Wonder of the Child in the Womb – Reflecting on the humanity of the unborn. The message to the bishops was delivered by…
Laois nun who helped generations of women into work to be honoured
A Co. Laois nun remembered for helping generations of young women in Portlaoise find work is to be honoured with a permanent memorial at her former convent. Mother Columba, the late principal of the Presentation Convent in Portlaoise, has been described as “a legend” for her efforts to secure jobs for pupils in the civil…
Pioneers encouraged to discuss Synodal Pathway themes
Renata Steffens
In preparation for the Synodal Gathering this coming October, members of the Pioneers have been invited to include discussions on the seven Irish Synodal Pathway Working Group themes in their meetings, Fr Robert McCabe, Central Spiritual Director for the Pioneers, told The Irish Catholic. Fr McCabe said there are some questions he is sharing with Pioneer members…
Archbishop Farrell praises those who make hidden contributions to the Church
People who believe in Jesus in a very worldly way can miss the true meaning of the Gospel, Archbishop Dermot Farrell has said. He was speaking at a Mass last week in which he praised those who often make an unnoticed contribution to the life of the Church. He spoke of their “deep faith and…
Irish nun who defied the Nazis remembered in new book
A new book is shining fresh light on the life of an Irish nun who helped save hundreds of people from the Nazis before surviving imprisonment in Ravensbrück concentration camp. The Nun of Ravensbrück: The Irish Nun Who Defied the Nazis, by historian Cathi Fleming, tells the story of Sr Kate McCarthy, a Franciscan nun…
Little demand for school divestment in rural or working-class areas
Most demand for the divestment of Catholic primary schools to other patron bodies is in middle-class urban areas, with much less demand for divestment in rural and working-class areas, according to new analysis of an extensive Department of Education survey of parents around the country. More details of that survey have now emerged, and Alan…
Holy Rosary Sisters remember founder at birthplace in Tipperary
The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary remembered the birthday of their founder Bishop Joseph Shanahan last weekend, gathering in Dublin and at his birthplace in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. Bishop Shanahan founded the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary in 1924, as Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha in southeast Nigeria, where he had been…
Documentary to counter ‘myths’ about Tuam mother and baby home
A planned new documentary aims to counter the widespread belief that the Bons Secours Sisters who ran the Tuam mother and baby home deliberately neglected, or even murdered, more than 800 babies over its 36-year history, and then ‘dumped’ the bodies in a septic tank. The documentary is being made by local historian, Eugene Jordan.…