Pope Francis has appointed Teresa Devlin, CEO of the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, as a new member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland Eamon Martin welcomed Ms Devlin’s appointment, saying that the Pope appoints those “who…
The work of Irish religious and missionaries in setting up schools, hospitals and more has been “taken for granted”, warned Fr Brendan Coffey OSB. Fr Coffey, president of the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland (AMRI), said the “wider story” of the good done in Ireland by religious isn’t being shown today.…
Pope Francis received the leadership of the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders group September 29, commending them for their work around the world in helping to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting took place in Pope Francis’s private apartment in Rome to discuss how school communities “can help to create a world that…
The head of the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia said the FBI’s arrest of a prominent Catholic pro-life activist known for his sidewalk counselling outside a Philadelphia abortion facility is “a horrendous stunt to intimidate pro-lifers”. Mark Houck, 48, was arrested at his home in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the morning of September 23 for…
President Michael D. Higgins has called on the leader of Nicaragua’s authoritarian regime Daniel Ortega to release hundreds of prisoners. The President called on President Ortega, a former friend, to release people “who have a right to participate in debate on the future of their country”. The European Parliament passed a motion last month calling…
After only two days, the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court adjourned the trial of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 90, and four co-defendants, until October 26. The trial began September 26 and had been scheduled for five days, but the magistrate adjourned the trial when defence lawyers attempted to cross-examine police witnesses called by the…
Vatican restricted East Timor archbishop after abuse allegations After a Dutch newspaper published an investigation into abuse allegations against retired Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of Dili, the Vatican said it had become aware of the allegations several years ago and placed restrictions on him. The newspaper De Groene Amsterdammer said it began its investigation…
Multiple challenges determine Catholic agencies’ response in Africa A humanitarian official who works in Southern Africa said Churches must offer a unified regional response to the problems crippling development in the region. Mwila Mulumbi, the Zambian country representative of CAFOD, spoke to the assembly of the Interregional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa, IMBISA, in…
The Irish bishops have called on the Government to extend energy bill supports to parish centres and churches which were ignored in Budget 2023. The prelates warned that there is likely to be “drastic closures” due to rapidly rising energy costs. In the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference statement after their Autumn 2022 General Meeting, they…
Church leaders have moved to ensure that those teaching religion in Catholic schools will have a good grounding in Catholic theology and belief. It comes after the teaching council – the State body which regulates the teaching profession – lowered the level of understanding of Catholicism necessary to be employed to teach religious studies at…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady