Staff reporter A senator has criticised the Chinese government’s regulations on religion which he says are leading to “churches being raided and closed”. Speaking in the Seanad, Independent Senator Victor Boyhan called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney to publicly express concern regarding the “mistreatment” of Christians. His comments came after a motion…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady Irish missionaries ministering with some of the world’s most vulnerable people in Africa have called on Ireland to give vaccine booster doses to developing nations “as a matter of justice”. The missionaries warn of a “greater disaster” with just 6% of adults in Africa fully vaccinated as new strains of…
Staff reporter New research reveals that more than one-in-ten Catholics who regularly attended Mass before the pandemic say they will not return when all restrictions are lifted. Carried out by Amárach Research in the Republic in mid-November, the survey found that a slim majority (53%) of pre-coronavirus Mass-goers have not returned, with 47% saying they…
A new documentary celebrating 1,500 years since the birth of the “powerful” and “brave” St Columba will be released next week. The dramatic reconstruction of the warrior and poet’s life, Calum Cille: An Naomh Dàna/Columba: The Bold Saint, will be broadcast simultaneously on the BBC, ALBA and TG4 on December 7 at 9.30pm and will…
It would be “unwise and unhelpful” to decide how the final listening report will be handled at the early stages of Ireland’s national synod, according to Bishop Paul Dempsey of Achonry following concerns about the process. A number of leading laypeople have called on the Irish bishops to return their final listening report when it…
Independent Dáil members have described as “bizarre” Government suggestions that families might forgo Christmas nativity plays this festive season while sports stadiums and night clubs are full. It comes as the Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon warned that the suggestions have a disproportionate impact on children and young people since no such plans have been…
The Social Democrat’s Sex Education Bill introduced into the Dáil last week is an “attack on pluralism and diversity”, said Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. The Meath-West TD accused the Social Democrats of trying to “force their ethos on other families who don’t want it”. “We believe that all parents should be able to send their…
Pope Francis has appointed a long-time Vatican diplomat to be his personal envoy to Medjugorje, following the death of Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser in August. Pastoral situation Dr Hoser had overseen the pastoral situation in the shrine, the site of reported Marian apparitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 2017. He died in Warsaw at age…
Fr Paddy Moran CSSp, who served as a missionary in Ethiopia for 11 years, made a passionate plea for prayers for the war torn country The Spiritan’s plea comes as the Irish Government advised its citizens to leave Ethiopia immediately, over concerns for their safety. Ethiopia, Fr Moran said, is “the birthplace of life”, but…
Staff reporter Dom Richard Purcell has resigned as abbot of the largest Cistercian monastery in the country. Dom Richard, who made history in 2009 by becoming the country’s youngest abbot at just 33, has led Mount Melleray since moving from Roscrea in 2017. However, he tendered his resignation last week. Order of Cistercians A statement…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones