EXCLUSIVE The Government is hoping that a major diplomatic engagement with the Vatican can be the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Ireland and the Holy See. Minister for Europe Thomas Byrne told The Irish Catholic that the coalition is keen to work more closely with the Vatican in areas of mutual interest…
Eight separate complaints against RTE’s New Year’s countdown programme were upheld by the Compliance Committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), July 7. The programme featured a satirical news sketch by Waterford Whispers in which God is arrested for sex crimes, which complainants said mocked the Catholic Faith. One complainant said she found the…
Skill and commitment saw the Italian team triumph against the English side in the 2020 Euro’s final, but faith is what gets Italian manager Roberto Mancini across the line. Mr Mancini has also visited Medjugorje in the past, travelling there ‘as a pilgrim’” The 56-year-old Italian is a devout Catholic, who previously said he has…
The Irish Government is failing to tackle child trafficking, which has moved further underground during the pandemic making it harder to identify, according to an Irish Sister of Mercy. Sr Patricia O’Donovan RSM, who founded the anti-human trafficking charity Mecpaths, told The Irish Catholic: “It is very disappointing. Ireland is really failing to meet the…
Brexit, the pandemic and Church/State relations were discussed as Ireland and the Vatican seek to deepen ties, writes Jason Osborne Last Thursday saw the resumption of high-level ministerial interaction between Ireland and the Holy See after a fraught decade. Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne met with the Holy See’s Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher…
The Irish Catholic understands that a number of Limerick City and County councillors opposed tabling a motion calling on the Minister for Health to create legislation for “safe access zones” around abortion services After a July 5 vote passed the motion calling on councillors to write to Minister Stephen Donnelly on the issue, councillors speaking…
“The beauty of human dignity” shone through the life of the long-time sacristan to Rowe Street Church in Wexford, who died suddenly June 24, said the local priest. Fr Billy Swan said Mr Kinsella’s tragic passing “has shocked us all”, but his loss “unites us in sadness but also in constant prayer and hope”. Mr…
The perceived unfairness of ex-president Jacob Zuma’s jailing and hardship caused by the effects of the pandemic are behind the “violent” unrest currently taking place in South Africa, according to Irish missionary Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM. At least 32 people have died during the unrest at the time of writing, the toll in KwaZulu-Natal province…
The first phase of the Archdiocese of Armagh’s preparations towards a diocesan synodal assembly have ended, with the next stage now in motion. Armagh’s ‘Year of Reflection and Prayer’, which was extended due to Covid-19, began at the end of January 2020 and ended earlier this month with a ceremony in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Speaking…
After TDs called for an end to voluntary contributions in schools, Catholic schools’ bodies hit back, saying “nobody wants to fundraise for necessities, but schools have to”. Ireland spends less than either the European Union or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average on education, Seamus Mulconry told The Irish Catholic. Contributions “The…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady