Gender-neutral bathrooms are the product of a lack of understanding about identity, a Wicklow-based priest has said. This comes as the Department of Education recently announced that gender neutral toilets are an option for schools under new design guidance. In the past few years, a number of secondary schools around the country have sought permission…
Not one Irish prisoner has been transferred to the State from overseas in the last four years, with a Catholic charity accusing the Government of causing families “anxiety” and not reforming a “broken system”. The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) expressed concern after the publication of the 2020 annual report on prisoners transferred into…
Prayer is the one place you can be “as profoundly you as you can be,” TV star Frank Skinner told the BBC’s Songs of Praise recently. The famous comedian, writer, TV presenter and actor spoke of his up-and-down relationship with the Faith but revealed the importance it has in his life at this stage. “I…
Everyone who has an interest in a peaceful transition to a more democratic Ireland ought to engage on unity, writes Fr Joe McVeigh Martin Mansergh, in his recent column in The Irish Catholic, argues that this is not the time to be talking about a border poll. I totally disagree with him. The Belfast/Good Friday agreement…
A Limerick diocesan report has found that there needs to be a “radical change of mindset” to balance leadership within the Church and “recognise the role of women”. The ‘Role of Women in Church Leadership Working Group Report’ found that “If you went into any parish, any church in the country, you would find that…
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has urged the US bishops to proceed with caution in their discussions about formulating a national policy “to address the situation of Catholics in public office who support legislation allowing abortion, euthanasia or other moral evils”. Cardinal Luis Ladaria, congregation prefect, reiterated what he said he had…
People should remember the contribution religious orders have made to Irish education and other services, according to ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Speaking on The Saint Patrick’s Podcast to Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly, Mr Ahern spoke of the extensive religious presence in his native Drumcondra as he grew up. “In the area where I lived in…
Church-charity Trócaire has welcomed Pope Francis’ call for universal access to Covid-19 vaccines and a suspension of intellectual property rights on the vaccines. The Pope made the call in a video message to the ‘Vax Live’ concert, an event promoting a more equal global distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations. He said a “variant of this virus…
Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini has said that he is praying there will be no schism in Germany, as priests and bishops in the country announce their disagreement with a document from the Vatican saying the Church cannot bless same-sex unions. In a May 4 interview with the newspaper Il Foglio, Cardinal Ruini said: “I hope…
Priests and pastoral workers in Germany defied Pope Francis this week by conducting blessing ceremonies attended by same-sex couples. Organisers held a day of protest on Monday in response to the Vatican’s recent declaration that the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions. The ceremonies, known as Segnungsgottesdienste für Liebende, or ‘blessing services…
Chai Brady