Homeless campaigners question why State won’t build on existing land Leading homelessness campaigners have questioned why the Government is turning to the Church asking for land for housing when the State is sitting on vast swathes of available land. Insisting that the Church and faith-inspired agencies should and will continue to play their part in…
A renowned US exorcist has warned that as Christianity declines in the Western world the need for exorcists increases and that he has been receiving calls from people in Ireland who could not find assistance. Licensed psychologist Msgr Stephen Rossetti, president and founder of the St Michael Centre for Spiritual Renewal in Washington DC, said Irish bishops “need to get together” and…
As Fine Gael and the Green Party are locked in disagreement over rural housing policy, Fr Harry Bohan said it’s important to give people the opportunity to live in villages. Fine Gael’s Junior Housing Minister Peter Burke said recently he expects one-off rural houses to make up 25% of new builds. However, the Green Party…
Catholic youth group Pure in Heart has said that more than consent is desirable prior to sexual activity, in response to new research which revealed that many teenagers do not believe it is always necessary to gain consent before engaging in a sexual activity with someone. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, General Manager of…
Parishes in the Republic are expected to be able to have churches up to 50% full from next week. As The Irish Catholic went to press this week the Cabinet was poised to announce a further easing of restrictions on religious and other gatherings and permit a phased return to out-of-school activities for children. Sacraments…
The people of the Caribbean nation are barely hanging on, having suffered “one thing after the next” in the last decade, said a Haiti-based aid worker. Makayla Palazzo, an aid-worker for Concern US, told The Irish Catholic that the people are in “shock and disbelief” after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which killed over 2,200 people,…
The late Sr Ethel Normoyle was a “life and death figure” for the thousands of people she helped during her ministry in South Africa, according to Irish missionary Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM. The archbishop’s words come in the wake of Sr Normoyle’s recent death August 16, which has seen tributes pour in from both Ireland…
Three names are to the fore in clerical circles to take up one of the most senior positions in the Church in Ireland. Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam turned 75 in April and therefore under Church rules was obliged to tender his resignation to Pope Francis. The papal nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo is now…
An art display in Togher honouring Cork’s “unofficial patron saint” Little Nellie of Holy God serves to “remind us of our baptismal calling”, parishioners were told at the unveiling. Fr Ben Hodnett of Togher parish asked artist John Doolan to create 11 pictures of Little Nellie to celebrate the anniversary of her 118th birthday. He…
Ireland’s ambassador to the US has opened up about the role of Catholic education in his formation and his gratitude to the “great men” who taught him in the Christian Brothers’ school in Waterford. Ambassador Dan Mulhall was speaking at the Milwaukee Irish Festival addressing the question of the role of the Church in Irish…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones