Gerry Adams said the IRA’s 1994 ceasefire would not have been possible without Fr Alec Reid CSsR, according to a letter he wrote to the rector of the Clonard Monastery at the time. Then Sinn Féin president, Mr Adams praised the whole Belfast-based Clonard Redemptorist community for their role in the peace process, signing off…
European bishops have warned that attempts to supress religion damage the image of the EU and its institutions, and support for the “European project in the member states”. This comes after an internal European Commission document was picked up by Italian newspaper Il Giornale which showed guidelines that proposed replacing “Christmas period” with “holiday period”…
Staff reporter The traditional highlight of the Maynooth year will go ahead later this month with people being invited to join the carol service online from the historic college chapel. Following revised public health guidance, a much-reduced congregation will attend this year’s carol service, which will be livestreamed on Wednesday December 15 at 7.30pm on…
The Archdiocese of Dublin has announced that a synodal process of discussion and discernment will begin across the diocese in the New Year, according to a letter sent by the archbishop. Archbishop Dermot Farrell also announced that a taskforce aimed at developing their pastoral plan has been created. He said: “It is my intention to…
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…
Chai Brady