Italy’s constitutional court on February 15 blocked a referendum to decriminalise physician-assisted suicide in the country, citing inadequate legal protections for the weak and vulnerable. The leadership of the Italian bishops’ conference welcomed the court’s decision in a statement. The court’s pronouncement “is a very specific invitation… to offer the support necessary to overcome or…
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin joined the people of Tullysaran, Co. Tyrone, February 11 to mark the beginning of the centenary year at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The Archbishop was joined by Cardinal Sean Brady, Fr Peter McAnenly Adm, Fr Barry Matthews CC and Deacon Malachy McElmeel. During the Mass, the Archbishop presented…
First diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes in three years announced In-person diocesan pilgrimages to Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in France are underway again for the first time since the pandemic started. The dioceses of Derry and Down and Connor have announced the dates for their 2022 diocesan pilgrimages, which will take place in July. The…
Pope reflects on what ails the priesthood Opening an international conference on priesthood, Pope Francis insisted that those who are not close to God in prayer, close to their bishop and other priests and immersed in the lives of their people are simply “‘clerical functionaries’ or ‘professionals of the sacred’”. “A priest needs to have…
The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has pleaded with people who don’t need new Government subsidies aimed at tackling the spiralling cost of living to gift it to their parish St Vincent de Paul group. It comes amidst fears that some families and older people are being faced with the stark choice to eat or…
There are currently no plans in place to reinstate the Sunday obligation across the island of Ireland with a bishop citing a “still high infection rate” as the reason. The Irish Catholic understands that, as of the time of writing, the move is considered to be premature in light of the present Covid-19 situation. Corresponding…
The parish priest of the Kilcoo GAA team who won the All-Ireland senior club final after a tense finale said the community is “delighted” for them. Fr Denis McKinlay, who is based in the nearby Castlewellan in Co. Down told The Irish Catholic that the small parish is “totally committed to the football”. “They live…
Staff reporter A priest who gave Last Rites to a 12-year-old boy killed in a collision with a truck in Limerick last week described it as “terribly harrowing”. Wiktor Chojecki (12) was driving the car on the N21 near Adare when the incident occurred just before 2am. It’s believed he took the vehicle while family…
The former master of the Rotunda hospital has described his relationship with the HSE as “quite toxic at times” and praised voluntary hospitals, the vast majority of which were founded and run by religious orders in Ireland. In his new book, Delivering the Future: Reflections of a Rotunda Master, Sam Coulter-Smith spoke of the need…
More than 800 anti-Christian incidents were reported in France in 2021. The provisional figures were announced on February 10 as part of an ongoing study of anti-religious acts in the Western European country, which has a population of 67 million people. Investigators have so far identified a total of 1,659 anti-religious acts last year, with…
Chai Brady