Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that public worship could return under “modified” level 3 restrictions in early December. In an interview on RTÉ News at One today the Taoiseach said: “We will make decisons towards the end of the month, I did say that we may look at level 3 as to modifications to level…
Category: News
Christians again top list of faiths facing hostility worldwide
Christians top the list for countries where they face either governmental or social hostility, according to a new report issued November 10 by the Pew Research Center. Christians have topped the list each year since Pew started collecting data in 2007. The number of countries where Christians face some form of hostility rose from 143…
Aontú submits bill to protect children from online pornography
Aontú has submitted the Protection of Children (Online Pornographic Material) Bill (2020) to the Dáil, which is set to be discussed in its first stage on Tuesday, November 17. The Bill will make the online provision of pornography to children by internet companies illegal. Commenting on the issue the Bill is intended to deal with, Meath…
Victims in McCarrick report show fear, courage, anger, need for action
The Vatican Secretariat of State’s report on Theodore E. McCarrick provides a glimpse into how a number of witnesses and victims of the former cardinal’s abuse sought numerous ways to alert church officials and were disturbingly aware their allegations might trigger repercussions. Over its 460 pages, the report also reveals how much difference 30 years…
Govt urged to re-think ‘sneaky’ tax on prayer
A proposal to apply VAT to devotional candles has been described as effectively “a tax on prayer”. The 2020 Finance Bill proposes to remove a historical protection on white candles which, according to Fr John Carroll of the Ferns Diocese, is akin to taxing “counselling or stress” given the solace many people feel lighting a…
Cork priest celebrating Mass publicly warned by Gardaí
EXCLUSIVE A priest in Co. Cork was warned by gardaí that they would “apply the full rigours of the law”, after he celebrated Mass with a small congregation The Irish Catholic can reveal. The priest, who did not wish to be named, said the garda involved did not specify what the penalty would be, but…
Trinity Catholic society pressured to stop praying
The Trinity College Catholic society has been warned they must stop organising prayer meetings, amidst fears of suspension or funding cuts. Correspondence seen by The Irish Catholic reveals that the Central Societies Committee has written to the Catholic Laurentian Society to inform them that they can no longer advertise or hold prayer meetings under the…
Order “overjoyed” after Pakistan road named after Irish missionary
The Irish Order of Jesus and Mary are “overjoyed” after a road in Pakistan was named after an award-winning Irish missionary for her work in education there. A road in Karachi was named after Sr Berchmans Conway RJM due to an initiative of parents of one of the schools in which she taught. Speaking to…
Co. Louth parish celebrates Joe Biden’s election success
A Co. Louth community has been busy celebrating the success of president-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 American elections. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, parish priest of Cooley, Fr Malachy Conlon, said, “There would be a palpable feeling of pride. Absolutely.” Fr Conlon welcomed Mr Biden to the area during his 2016 visit to Ireland,…
New EU budget ruling a ‘bullying push’ for ideological conformity
A new EU budget ruling could violate national sovereignty in an “undemocratic and divisive move”, according to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. The EU recently reached an agreement that gives Brussels the green light to cut funding to EU member countries over issues such as human rights and the independence of the judiciary.…

Chai Brady



Ruadhán Jones




Michael Kelly