Poor families are struggling to buy food as prices rise “astronomically” and Brazil’s Covid-19 crisis worsens, according to an Irish Spiritan based there. Fr Brendan Foley, the Superior of the Brazil South-West Province and parish priest in Perus, São Paulo told this paper that in response to the increase in food prices they opened a food bank…
The Irish Bishops have announced the initial submission phase of the upcoming synod, which was announced March 10. Commenting on the development, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said the bishops were inviting submissions “to reflect on what methods/models to adopt” in the coming two years of conversations. He gave as examples “parish hall meetings, focus…
Homelessness activist Fr Peter McVerry’s interview with Tommy Tiernan met with much acclaim on social media, which he said was “pleasing”. After the 15 minute interview aired on Saturday, Fr McVerry – who spoke out forcefully on the issue of homelessness – was praised for “the quiet force of his witness”. Fine Gael MEP Seán…
The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world has shown steady growth, while the number of religious men and women continued to decrease, according to Vatican statistics. At the end of 2019, the worldwide Catholic population exceeded 1.34 billion, which continued to be about 17.7% of the world’s population, said an article published…
A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that many pupils will be heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the long run, with disadvantaged pupils especially affected. A key point is that students with access to good technology and parents willing to help with their work will fave much…
Efforts by pro-choice activists to make at-home abortions permanently available are driven by ideology “not how can we help the mother and baby”, say the Life Institute. In March, the Department of Health confirmed at-home abortion services would end after the pandemic. Pro-abortion groups, such as the National Women’s Council (NWCI), are pressuring the Government…
Catholic schools’ representatives have said schools are “delighted” as all classes return for the first time, though challenging times remain ahead. Mr Seamus Mulconry of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) said schools know “an hour in the classroom is worth a week online”. “Schools are delighted and it’s far easier to have a…
Two skulls and a cluster of other bones discovered in the attic of a house in the Welsh town of Holywell have been identified as Welsh priests and martyrs Philip Evans and John Lloyd. The bones were discovered in 1858, but it wasn’t until recently they were identified, by Jan Graffius, curator of the Stonyhurst…
As parliamentarians debated last Thursday a bill to legalise euthanasia, French bishops spoke out against the proposal. A bill to institute a right to “a free and chosen end of life” was debated in the National Assembly, the lower house of France’s parliament, April 8. “The solution when a person faces suffering is not to…
Bishop Dónal McKeown said that the Irish Synod must be focused on “re-energising the mercy mission” of the Church or risk becoming a “curious talking shop”. The bishop of Derry’s comments come as the initial submission phase for the National Synodal Assembly begins. Writing in The Net, Bishop McKeown said that synodality does not mean…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones