A senior Russian priest dismissed President Vladimir Putin’s threats of nuclear war as “just words,” but said many young Catholics now fear being forcibly conscripted with their priests to join the war against Ukraine. “Although I’m not a military person, I don’t think the Russian army could even use nuclear weapons – and if it…
Editor says renewal of Vatican agreement with China on the horizon As the October deadline approaches for the extension of the Vatican’s agreement with the Chinese government, the newly appointed editor of the news agency of the Dicastery for Evangelisation said the deal has been instrumental in allowing Catholics to practice their faith openly and…
Demand increasing for Crosscare’s Food Poverty Service Some 600 families and individuals, including 800 children, have come forward to a new food poverty service in Dublin seeking help with food supplies. Crosscare’s Food Poverty Service was established nine months ago, and demand has steadily increased, with many people presenting in food poverty for the first…
Comments made by Irish MEP Mick Wallace about a bishop detained by the Nicaraguan regime have been dubbed “inexcusable” and “reckless” by an Irish missionary. The European Parliament motion on Nicaragua, which decried the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the “repression” of the Church in the country under authoritarian leader Daniel Ortega, passed by…
Women religious in Ireland have lamented their “constant battering” by the media in a submission to the Irish synodal process. Media reporting is “happy to use women religious as scapegoats for Irish Church and society”, the Irish women religious say in their submission. “When we feel that it’s ending it comes back again and again…
The Primate of All-Ireland has said he hopes that following Queen Elizabeth II’s death the risks she took to build peace will not be forgotten. Archbishop Eamon Martin of the Archdiocese of Armagh attended the queen’s funeral on Monday. He said: “Since the queen’s death there has been an outpouring of affection and genuine respect…
The Irish Government is failing to meet its own agreements for protecting the rights of children, Irish religious have warned. Very concerned In a joint submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Irish religious said they are “very concerned” that the Government is “falling short” in a number of key areas.…
Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne Nine students have begun formal seminary studies for the priesthood for Ireland’s 26 dioceses this month. It is up on the six who entered seminary last year. A further ten men will also begin a preparatory programme – known as a propaedeutic year – with the hope of…
Staff reporter An ecumenical event was held at Kilmore Cathedral in Cavan which involved the planting of crocus bulbs on the front lawn of the cathedral which will spell out ‘Hope’, to celebrate the Season of Creation. The crocus bulbs were planted by young parishioners on Sunday to illustrate the need to address the impact…
Marcus Freeman, head coach of the University of Notre Dame’s football team, has announced that he converted to Catholicism after his home parish published an announcement welcoming Mr Freeman into the Church in its parish bulletin. According to sources, Mr Freeman entered the Church at the end of August, before the start of the college…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady