Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, who is vice-president of an EU bishops’ body, has defended the “fundamental right” to conscientious objection against abortion, as a draft EU resolution “questions the mere existence” of this right. The European Parliament Plenary (EPP) is to vote on a resolution to adopt a report on abortion that…
The news that one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies has taken a stand against internet pornography has been welcomed by Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín. US giant Comcast cut ties with MindGeek earlier this month, the parent company behind the world’s largest pornography website, Pornhub. Comcast announced that they have decided to drop all MindGeek content…
Mass card suppliers have seen a “huge increase” in demand for Mass cards since they moved online at the beginning of the pandemic. This increase has been accompanied by a rise in requests for memoriam cards in recent months, as the year’s anniversary of many of the pandemic’s initial deaths comes about. Speaking to The…
A fundraising campaign has begun for a new sensory and play garden for 32 children with severe intellectual disabilities, with the director of the charity behind the push saying it will “make a real difference”. Speaking about ‘Project Eden’, the director of Respect, Sr Zoe Killeen said: “We greatly appreciate any support that people can…
The first conviction under current human trafficking legislation has been welcomed as “historic” by a charity that supports women affected by prostitution. Ruhama CEO, Barbara Condon said last week’s judgement in Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court is “undoubtedly historic and we greatly welcome the verdict”. She said the charity’s caseworkers had worked “tirelessly” with the women involved…
The Brussels-based commission representing the Catholic bishops of the European Union is backing tougher steps to combat hate crimes, but warned that current EU proposals could violate religious freedom and have a “chilling and self-censoring effect”. “Hate crimes are more and more common and are cause for increasing concern – a grave phenomenon to be…
In what has been described as a “Biblical ordeal”, a US lobsterman escaped after being swallowed by a humpback whale. Michael Packard, 56, of Provincetown, Massachusetts, was diving off Cape Cod when he was swallowed by the whale for between 30 and 40 seconds, only to be spat out with nothing more than a suspected…
Co. Clare priest Fr Ger Nash (62) has said it is “exciting to be asked to take a leadership role” after Pope Francis appointed him as the new bishop of the Diocese of Ferns last week. He will be taking over from Bishop Denis Brennan. Bishop-elect Nash said he looked forward to walking with the…
Clergy, women religious and laypeople pledged to strengthen existing networks and build new partnerships to fight human trafficking in West Africa during a five-day conference. Recognising that the coronavirus pandemic has not slowed the work of traffickers who force young people into prostitution, pornography, erotic entertainment and forced labour, more than two dozen participants agreed…
Fundamental theological principles provide the framework for any doctrinal questions over the discovery of extra-terrestrial beings, a theologian claimed in a lecture on June 5. While the Church does not have any specific teachings on extra-terrestrial life, theologians can speculate on the existence of these beings and their nature due to the “underlying principles” which…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady