Frozen in time, like a “musical Pompeii,” the 221 remaining original organ pipes from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem may fill a gap of knowledge of more than three centuries in the history of the organ and its cultural context, medieval church culture, music and technology. “This organ dates from the 12th century…
This Sunday August 15 – the Solemnity of the Assumption – a Eurovision Mass will be celebrated and broadcast live from Knock Basilica on RTÉ One at 11am. The main celebrant will be Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine. The liturgy will feature music by the Schola Cantorum Basilicae under the direction…
Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines signed documents with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), or Philippine Independent Church, “for more ecumenical cooperation amidst diversity.” In a joint statement signed on August 3, leaders of both churches said that together they “ask and pray for mutual forgiveness for any injuries inflicted in the past.” “We shall strive for…
The board of directors of the Cuban Conference of Men and Women Religious reported last Tuesday that following the July 11 protests of the island’s communist government “there are still detainees awaiting trial, under investigation and others punished with very severe penalties.” The conference has been offering legal advice to detainees and spiritual and psychological…
Vatican: ‘Killer robots’ pose threat to innocent civilians The use of “killer robots” and other lethal autonomous weapons systems violate international treaties because innocent civilians could be erroneously targeted, the Vatican said during a UN meeting in Geneva. The potential of having “swarms of ‘kamikaze’ mini drones” and other advanced weaponry using artificial intelligence raises…
New allegations against David Haas prompt publisher to cut ties with composer A top publisher of hymns will stop publishing works by David Haas after receiving additional allegations of sexual misconduct against the embattled Catholic composer. “We have suspended our publishing and sponsorship relationship with Mr Haas and have also removed his music, books, and…
Two more bishops have decided to join colleagues and forge ahead with First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies this month as Ireland’s bishops remain sharply divided on the issue. Bishop Donal McKeown of the Diocese of Derry and auxiliary Bishop Michael Router in Armagh archdiocese, which both straddle the border, confirmed to The Irish Catholic…
There are many people who want to publicly express the Faith but fear “ridicule” in Ireland, according to the Primate of All-Ireland and the Archbishop of Armagh. Archbishop Eamon Martin was speaking on St Patrick’s Podcast, which operates out of the Saint Patrick Centre in Co. Down. He was asked what he would ban from…
A new study has estimated that 3,462 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the first 200 days of 2021. This works out as 17 Christian murders every day in Africa’s most populous country. The study was conducted by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which is based in Onitsha…
Spain’s Catholic bishops warned of growing division and tension in their country over government attempts to “deconstruct and dismantle the Christian worldview”. “We are in a difficult moment, not only because of Covid-19, but because we are convulsed by a deep institutional crisis, with some groups seeking to open a new constitutional phase and replace…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady