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…
Two Laois students have raised €1,800 in a virtual ‘Walk to Lourdes’ challenge for a homelessness charity. Sadhbh Dunne and Cara Phelan encouraged their community to collectively walk 1,965km – the distance from their Portlaoise school and Lourdes, France – as part of their St John Paul II award. So far they have raised €1,790…
Global hunger has reached an alarming level and could grow worse as the Covid-19 pandemic stretches on, said Catholic Relief Services last week. The organisation issued a new analysis identifying food crises in 14 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. “In addition to the tremendous health and economic…
The Catholic bishops hit out at Taoiseach Micheál Martin for not responding to a request to permit Mass for Easter almost four weeks after a meeting to discuss the vital issue. In their strongest intervention on public worship, the Church leaders insisted last week that ongoing restrictions banning people attending Mass would be “unjust” as…
A religious sister in northern Burma knelt before police last Monday, begging them not to use violent force against protestors. In a video, Sr Ann Rose Nu Tawng, a member of the Sisters of St Francis Xavier, can be seen speaking March 8 to two kneeling police officers in the city of Myitkyina, the capital…
A religious sister and registered nurse who served those sick with Covid-19 in Italy has been honoured by the US State Department with the “Women of Courage” Award. Sr Alicia Vacas Moro is a Comboni Missionary Sister originally from Spain who has served the poor and the sick as a nurse in Egypt, the West…
Vatican diplomat criticises ‘divisive’ UN report on Islamophobia A Vatican diplomat has expressed dismay at “the narrow scope” of a United Nations Human Rights Council report into the persecution of people of faith. Addressing the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, March 4, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Permanent Observer to the UN…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady