Pleas from TDs for a return to public worship for Holy Week were shot down in the Dáil last night (Thursday) as the Government  insisted that it would not entertain discussion on the issue until Easter Monday, April 5 at the earliest. Rural Independent deputies Mattie McGrath, Carol Nolan, Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue made…

Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne Schools are frustrated by the lack of access to timely advice, according to the acting director of a Catholic schools’ body, as the Government has failed to offer the promised 24-hour support principals need. “Schools can only remain open to in-school teaching if the correct supports and sufficient…

There is “cautious optimism” and delight as Catholics return to public Mass in the North this week. The return in time for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter has been described as “great news” as people were at “the end of their tether”. Catholic activist Tracey Harkin told this paper: “I think the feeling…

Politicians have dubbed the fining of a priest for holding public Mass “disgraceful” and grossly unfair. This newspaper revealed at the weekend that Co. Cavan-based Fr PJ Hughes had been slapped with a €500 fine by gardaí after he left the doors of the church open so parishioners could feel free to attend Mass. This…

“It’s not pastoral care” to bless the relationships of same-sex couples, says Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, following backlash over a Vatican document on the blessing of same-sex unions. The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith’s (CDF) recent document which ruled that the Church cannot bless same-sex unions sparked controversy, as priests and bishops in…

The Irish state has been given two weeks to clarify whether, in fact, there is a law against Masses being said in public. The instruction was made on Tuesday March 23 by Judge Charles Meenan, as part of the constitutional case being taken by businessman Declan Ganley, according to Gript.ie. Mr Ganley’s lawyers used a…

The northern bishops have accused the British government of showing a “reckless disregard” for the region’s cross-community power-sharing government over plans to impose abortion legislation. The Westminster government has announced that it is to give the Secretary of State new powers to compel the locally-elected parliament to implement abortion laws. In March 2020, when the…

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…