A much-anticipated report on the handling of abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne exonerates Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki but Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße has requested “immediate release” from his duties following the report. The report by the law firm Gercke Wollschläger accuses Cardinal Woelki’s predecessors, the deceased Cardinals Joseph Höffner (1906-1987) and Joachim Meisner…
Parishioners gathered in Wexford and Dublin this weekend to pray for a return to public worship, as Christians face a second Easter without Mass. “Sixty people gathered together, all safely spaced out,” said Ms Katie Black, who was involved in the gatherings. “Everyone was delighted to come together and some even expressed later that they…
A new survey carried out has shown that almost half (47%) of regular Mass goers would attend Mass today if they could, despite the ongoing pandemic. The poll, which was commissioned by the Iona Institute, found that 57% of regular Mass-goers went again over Christmas, and over 24% of the overall population. The same research…
Faith leaders have an important role to play as the world continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and the ups and downs of vaccine distribution, participants in a webinar heard. That role is based on trust and accurately sharing information, said Kathryn Kraft, senior research adviser for faith and development at World Vision International.…
Food, cooking fuel, jobs and, especially, hope are hard to come by in Syria, said two Catholic leaders reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the war. “We feel forgotten. The sanctions have thrown the country further into desperation: 83% of the population is below the poverty line. We can’t do it anymore. Enough,” said Maronite…
The vaccine delay is the “overarching factor” that has changed people’s attitudes to the lockdown, according to Professor of Psychiatry Patricia Casey. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Professor Casey said the delay is “very distressing for people” and encouraged them to get in touch with their TDs to express how “disgruntled” they are. “This is…
Trainer Paul Hennessy whose horse ‘Heaven Help Us’ snatched an impressive victory in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival opened up about the religious names of some of his other horses over the weekend. Mr Hennessy said on RTÉ’s CountryWide that the winning horse’s siblings all have religious names. The mother of Heaven Help…
If the Equal Rights Amendment were to become part of the US Constitution, its opponents say, it will actually harm women’s interests and invalidate pro-life policies, such as the federal Hyde Amendment and all state restrictions on tax-funded abortions. Its supporters say it will protect women from discrimination in the workplace, domestic violence and sexual…
In the throes of a collapsing economy exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and devastation from the catastrophic Beirut port blast last August, Lebanon is sinking further into a dire situation. “Now we have the ‘new’ poor,” Carmelite Fr Michel Abboud, president of Caritas Lebanon said of the rapidly rising segment of the country’s population. “So…
‘I too kneel on Myanmar streets,’ says Pope As security forces in Myanmar have increased their crackdown on civilians, with disappearances, detentions and the killing of peaceful protesters, Pope Francis appealed for an end to violence and the start of dialogue. “Once again, and with much sorrow, I feel compelled to mention the tragic situation…
Ruadhán Jones