The Argentine Pontiff has in the past supported the inclusion of gay couples in civil unions, but saying as Pope puts him at odds with the hitherto official Vatican line writes Michael Kelly Pope Francis is making the headlines with reports that he has used an interview for a new documentary film to offer his support for…
Irish organisations have called for the release of a Jesuit priest in India after he was arrested on “outrageous” and “flimsy” charges relating to terrorism. Fr Stan Swamy from Ranchi in India was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India and imprisoned on October 8. He was accused of having links with banned…
Independent senators Rónán Mullen and Lynn Ruane clashed over “present hypocricies” and a lack of honesty during Seanad debates over the Mother and Baby Homes Commission Bill. The argument arose when Senator Mullen said politicians were “running with the pack” in condemning the past, rather than looking for “nuance”. Lynne Ruane shot back that Mr…
While the Church in Ireland struggles to adapt to the rolling Covid-19 measures, NET Ministries are continuing to adapt to the moving times in an effort to reach out to the young people of Ireland. “As the restrictions change, and as advice from the Government is different nearly every week, we’re very much holding it…
The number of Catholics worldwide increased by almost 16 million in a year to 1.33 billion, according to statistics highlighted by the Vatican around the 2020 World Mission Sunday. The figures, shared by the Fides News Service, showed that there were 15,716,000 more Catholics at the end of 2018 – the most recent year where numbers are…
Catholics in the North wait almost twice as long as Protestants for housing according to government statistics. Out of 35,750 people on the housing list by the end of June 2020, 36.4% identified as Catholic while 38.2% identified as Protestant. The figures, discovered by the Belfast Telegraph after a Freedom of Information request, found that…
San Francisco’s archbishop plans to conduct an exorcism on October 17 at the site of a now-toppled statue of St Junipero Serra at St Rafael Mission Church in San Rafael. Just the saint’s feet are left after the statue on church property was vandalised and desecrated on October 12 by what Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone described…
Young people are being “stigmatised” for the spread of Covid-19 despite many “stepping up” and being generous and self-sacrificial according to the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin. Speaking at Mass for the dedication of studies at the Catholic Chaplaincy, Queen’s University Belfast Archbishop Eamon said many young people have shown “great resilience” throughout the pandemic and…
The Catholic Church in Switzerland has backed legislation that would penalise companies that damage the environment or abuse human rights. “This initiative focuses on human rights violations, whose primary victims are the poorest and most vulnerable,” the Church said in a joint appeal with protestant leaders. “It makes an urgent appeal, to both our government…
Shoppers in one of the largest supermarkets in Ballymena, Co. Antrim were stunned when the words “F*** the Pope” were announced over the tannoy. It is understood that a member of the public, a male youth, gained access to an unattended speaker at a Tesco store and shouted out the sectarian slur. According to a…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones