Bioethicists criticised June 3 the relaxation of a 14-day limit on human embryo experimentation. In a statement, the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford, England, lamented the decision by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) to lift the limit on lab-grown embryo experimentation. “Once the 14-day rule falls away, the only real limit, it…
Revised canon law on crimes, punishments published A series of laws and procedures promulgated by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and, especially, by Pope Francis to protect children, promote the investigation of allegations of clerical sexual abuse and punish offenders are included in a heavily revised section of the Code of Canon Law. The revision of…
Austrian bishops oppose assisted suicide ruling Austria’s Catholic bishops urged the authorities on June 1 to offer people “assistance to live”, rather than assistance to suicide. The bishops issued a statement in the wake of a ruling by the country’s top court that assisted suicide should no longer be a criminal offense. “Dying is a…
Pope Francis on Wednesday encouraged busy Catholics to say the “Jesus Prayer” throughout the day
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising has submitted his resignation to Pope Francis, saying that bishops must begin to accept responsibility for the institutional failures of the church in handling the clerical sexual abuse crisis. Cardinal Marx (67) released a statement on Friday and, with the Pope’s permission, a copy of the letter…
With just weeks to go, organisers of this year’s ‘Rally for Life’ have revealed details of the weekend plan including a free screening of the movie Voiceless. This year the event will take place from July 1-4, and while the normal large gathering in Dublin will not take place due to Covid-19 restrictions a number…
As has become traditional at the June public holiday, Bishop Fintan Monahan has asked parishes across the country to pray for safety on the roads. As more people travel due to the holiday, the Bishop of Killaloe will also lead a ‘blessing of the roads’ ceremony in Co. Clare on Saturday. In a statement, Dr…
The Religious Sisters of Charity have called on the Minister for Health to speed up the transfer of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group to facilitate it “as soon as possible”. The congregation also insisted that it will have no role in the new national maternity hospital being constructed on the site. It comes after several politicians…
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Ireland has organised for Mass to be offered at a Mass Rock in each of Ireland’s 26 dioceses in the build-up to the Feast of the Irish Martyrs June 20. The Masses were offered for the renewal of the Faith in Ireland through the intercession of Irish Martyrs,…
Bishops call for return of Mass to Irish prisons Irish bishops have come out in support of prisoners’ “constitutional right” to practice their religion, as communal worship has yet to restart in Irish penal institutions. There is also growing calls for prisoners to be vaccinated sooner so that some of the restrictions on their lives…
Ruadhán Jones