Staff reporter This year began with the full recognition of the Irish language by the European Union for the first time in Ireland’s history as a member state. As an official language of the EU, all documents published by the union will be translated into Irish. Welcoming the decision, parish priest of Arklow and keen…
The controversial law on the minimum pricing of alcohol has been welcomed by homelessness charity founder Fr Peter McVerry who said it is “very positive” but admitted there were downsides to the legislation. Minimum unit pricing of alcohol, enacted on January 4, aims to stop the sale of strong alcohol at low prices, which has…
Staff reporter A Catholic nurse suffered harassment and discrimination because she refused to remove a small gold cross necklace at work, an employment tribunal ruled. Mary Onuoha, 61, was subjected to “offensive and intimidating” treatment by the National Health Service, her employer, and was unfairly dismissed from her job at the Croydon University Hospital in…
A ransom was paid for the missionaries held hostage in Haiti, said the husband and father of six of the now-released hostages. “There had been a ransom agreement reached with the hostage takers,” said Ray Noecker, whose wife and five children were among the 17 people kidnapped by a Haitian gang on October 16. Mr…
Fr John Joe Duffy said the “living Church” was very active in the parish of Creeslough after their church suffered a possible €250,000 worth of storm damage. Fr Duffy was “shocked” when the sacristan of St Michael’s Church, Creeslough contacted him to say the church was “a terrible mess” after gale-storm winds overnight had damaged…
Pope sends Christmas greetings to Oriental Churches With Eastern rite Catholics and Orthodox Faithful celebrating Christmas on January 7, Pope Francis sent his best wishes for “peace and every joy”. Greeting the Faithful after the prayer of the Angelus last Thursday, Pope Francis sent his greetings to Orthodox Christians and Eastern rite Catholics who celebrated…
Staff reporter There have been no complaints submitted to maternity hospitals about pro-life protestors despite claims women are being harassed as they access facilities that provide abortion. An investigation conducted by Gript revealed that of the 16 out of 19 relevant hospitals, none had received a formal complaint from staff or patients regarding pro-life protestors…
The synodal journey is a “pathway not a runway” and will not give an “instant solution”, Archbishop Francis Duffy said during his homily for his installation Mass as Archbishop of Tuam. Archbishop Duffy was installed in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam on Sunday, January 9, taking the reins from Archbishop Michael Neary who served…
Unvaccinated Catholics asked not to attend Mass by English parish A parish in England has asked Catholics not to attend Mass if they are “not vaccinated and/or won’t wear a mask”. The Parish of the Holy Family, East Nottingham, in central England, issued the request most recently in a newsletter dated December 26. Under the heading “Keeping safe,”…
Pope Francis said on Wednesday that it is a civilisational loss when dogs and cats replace children in society, encouraging couples to “take the risk” to become parents. “The other day, I was talking about the demographic winter that we have today … many couples do not have children because they do not want to,…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones