Ireland is a “haven” for human traffickers, with a “huge number” of them exploiting women, children and men, people working with survivors have warned. Serious concern has also been expressed at the failure of authorities to identify victims of child trafficking. Sr Eilis Coe RSC warned that there is a “huge demand” for the buying…
Religious sisters with a charism of carrying out door-to-door visitations have recently arrived in Ireland from the US, providing encouragement and support to already-busy priests. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Sister Theresa Marie of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate said that their experience so far has been “very encouraging” and that it’s been…
Sectarianism is more widespread than the actions of a few young people and political parties who “foment confrontation as a political weapon” bear their share of responsibility, Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry has said. His comments come in the wake of a controversial bonfire in Derry in which poppy wreaths, Union flags and an image…
A letter from over 500 young Catholics challenging the synod on a perceived desire among young people for liberal reform is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Irish bishops’ conference. Oisín Bridges, one of the letter’s organisers, said it is a “great sign” of leadership, to take on board the views of…
The Irish Government has raised the issue of the detention of an archbishop by Lebanese authorities while he was returning from Israel following a routine visit to his Episcopal See. Archbishop Moussa El-Hage of Haifa and the Holy Land was detained last month while bringing $460,000 (€451,000) in aid from the Lebanese diaspora in Israel…
World renowned Irish-Sierra Leonean musician Loah has opened up about how Christ’s love helps her cope with pressures of publicity. The singer-songwriter was raised Catholic but fell away, telling The Sunday Independent that she realised she couldn’t go through life without a raft, and turned back to Christ. “It was a really physical, embodied, deep…
A fire ripped through a packed Coptic Orthodox church during morning services in Egypt’s capital on Sunday, quickly filling it with thick black smoke and killing 41 worshippers, including at least 15 children. Several trapped congregants jumped from upper floors of the Martyr Abu Sefein church to try to escape the intense flames, witnesses said.…
The mother of 2020 Late Late Toy Show star Saoírse Ruane who was diagnosed twice with life-threatening tumours, said she feels a strong connection to Padre Pio after praying to him before her daughter’s major surgery. Roseanna Ruane spoke of hearing Saoírse’s diagnosis of Osteosarcoma and subsequent treatments more than two years ago, and then…
Staff reporter The bishops of Ireland welcomed Tuesday the publication of the National Synthesis of the Synodal Process on www.synod.ie, while inviting “the whole people of God in this country to study its findings carefully and prayerfully”. The National Synthesis has been forwarded to Rome as part of the worldwide synodal process launched by Pope Francis…
Cardinal Joseph Zen is set to stand trial next month, along with four other people, in connection to his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy legal fund. It appears he has not been indicted under Hong Kong’s national security law, which would have carried with it much more serious penalties. Cardinal Zen, 90, is…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady