Pope Francis has urged Irish Catholics to remember the great faith that Irish missionaries have brought to every corner of the world. The Pope made the plea tonight (Friday) via a videolink to Knock Shrine where he formally elevated the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in 1879 as an international sanctuary of special Eucharistic…
Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Hesse has offered his resignation to Pope Francis in the wake of a report on the Cologne archdiocese’s handling of abuse cases. “In order to avert damage to the office of the archbishop as well as the Hamburg archdiocese, I am offering Pope Francis my resignation from office and am asking him…
The Westminster government has been criticised for seeking to give Britain’s secretary of state for the region new powers to compel Stormont to implement abortion laws over the head of locally-elected politicians. Aontú has described the push as an “attack on self-determination”. Speaking of the unprecedented decision, Derry Aontú representative Gemma Brolly said: “For 200…
Independent Senator Sharon Keogan has sought the help of members of the Oireachtas as she takes to the front of Leinster House in support of the reopening of churches for Easter. The senator will be joined by other members of the Oireachtas at 12pm on Tuesday, March 23 in front of Leinster House. In a…
Catholics and Protestants in Germany announced on Tuesday that they would press ahead with intercommunion at an event in May despite Vatican objections. In a March 16 press release, organisers of the third Ecumenical Church Congress (ÖKT) in Frankfurt said that they planned to invite Christians to attend celebrations “in many churches” in the city and across…
Chai Brady and Ruadhán Jones The Church cannot shy away from controversial questions about the disconnect with young people and the role of women as it prepares for a national synod, bishops have told The Irish Catholic. Following their spring meeting, the hierarchy announced that it will work towards a national synod in the next…
Religious orders have expressed a “cautious optimism” since the reception of the first jab in many of the congregated settings around the island. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, provincials and representatives of various orders told of their “relief” and gratitude following the reception of the vaccine. “Given our age profile you can imagine, it’s very…
The Aontú representative for East Derry has criticised “the absence of humanity or compassion” in Sinn Féin’s push to increase the number of abortions in Northern Ireland. Gemma Brolly said Sinn Féin are seeking to “bin the Human Right to life of the weakest among us” by pushing to increase abortion services. Sinn Féin have…
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act heading to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature will provide relief to Americans in need amid the pandemic, but it lacks “protections for the unborn”, the US bishops said. Their March 10 statement quickly followed US House passage of the measure in a 220-211 vote. Biden was…
Gang intimidation due to drug debts has increased during lockdown according to a group who help families affected by drug addiction. In addition, more families are becoming “isolated” with online forums failing to bridge the gap, a coordinator from the National Family Support Network said. North East Region coordinator Gwen McKenna told this paper: “Gang…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady