The Archbishop of San Francisco has publicly supported Denver Archbishop Aquila’s response to the German bishops’ “synodal path”, which he said advances “untenable” views of the Church. In his open letter dated May 13, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver had warned about the fundamental text produced by the first forum of the German Catholic Synodal…
Last year saw a 20% drop in suicides across Ireland, according to the latest statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The new figures show that deaths from suicide and self-harm fell from 421 in 2019 to 340 in 2020. This is despite widespread fears that the pandemic and ensuing restrictions could result in an…
The Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on participation in religious services just as it did on workplaces, but a new survey indicates strong emotional resilience from those who consider their faith vital to their existence. That was part of the findings of a survey conducted late last year of 1,600 adults, mostly from Washington, Maryland…
A “perfect storm” of problems awaits families as the pandemic supports and protections are wound down, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has warned. A lack of “joined up thinking” on the removal of the moratorium on energy disconnections and evictions, and the ending of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in the coming months will…
Archbishop Paul Coakley said May 26, that the tragic shootings at a rail yard in San Jose, California, “reminds us once again that something fundamentally broken in our society and culture must be courageously examined and addressed”. The shooting that left 9 people dead and multiple people injured took place at 6:48am at the Valley…
Every day is “remembrance day” in St Agatha’s parish, of the 28 people killed and over 90 injured after four bombs were dropped on Dublin’s North Strand 80 years ago. “The loss of 28 people, it’s just extraordinary,” Fr Brendan Kealy of St Agatha’s told The Irish Catholic. “Every day here is a remembrance day…
A bill proposed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party would criminalise “harassment” of women entering abortion clinics. The bill was introduced May 21 by the PSOE’s coalition in the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Spain’s legislature, and would criminalise “harassing women going to clinics for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy”. Penalties for…
Gunmen attacked a Catholic parish in northern Nigeria last Thursday, killing one priest and kidnapping another. Fr Alphonsus Bello was found dead May 21, the morning after his parish, St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in the Diocese of Sokoto, was attacked by armed bandits. He was 33. Fr Bello was kidnapped along with another priest,…
Vatican names new liturgy chief Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Arthur Roche last Thursday as the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Archbishop Roche, the current secretary for the congregation, succeeds Cardinal Robert Sarah, who served as its prefect for six years until the Pope accepted his resignation…
Hong Kong churches to commemorate Tiananmen victims Seven churches in Hong Kong will offer candlelight vigil Masses on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre this June. The Diocese of Hong Kong’s Justice and Peace Commission has announced that the churches will each offer a Mass for the Dead on the night of June 4.…