At least two Spanish archdioceses have expressed their support for the Church in Nicaragua, which is being persecuted by dictator Daniel Ortega, with messages of solidarity on social media, especially for the Bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando José Álvarez. Spain’s primatial archdiocese of Toledo, said on Twitter “We entrust the entire Diocese of Matagalpa (to God)…
Wanted: Ireland’s Volunteer of the Year Nominations have opened for the 2022 Volunteer Ireland Awards and the public is being asked to nominate Ireland’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’. The Volunteer Ireland Awards take place annually and celebrate the “immense contribution volunteers make to communities across Ireland”, a statement from the company said. Volunteer Ireland CEO,…
Vatican says not enough evidence to try cardinal for sexual assault A preliminary Vatican investigation into allegations against Cardinal Marc Ouellet concluded there was not sufficient evidence to warrant opening up formal proceedings against the cardinal for sexual assault, a Vatican spokesman said. However, the Jesuit who did the investigation was a long-time associate of…
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.…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady