In open defiance of the Vatican, Catholic bishops in Belgium September 20 announced the introduction of blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples in their dioceses. The bishops of Flanders also published a liturgy for the celebration of homosexual unions. “In doing so, they are going directly against the Vatican,” reported Nederlands Dagblad. The Vatican published an official clarification in March…
Fr Ronan Sheehan (27) celebrated his first Masses in his native parish of Murragh and Templemartin, Co. Cork, on Monday September 19. A large crowd attended the celebration, which occurs as the parish marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of St John the Baptist Church, Newcestown. Fr Sheehan also celebrated Mass Tuesday, September 20,…
Young people from across the Archdiocese of Armagh gathered with their families and award leaders to receive their Pope John Paul II and Muiredach Cross award, September 15. The ceremony held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, was the first since 2019. The diocese said in a statement that the “recipients are to be commended as…
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.…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady