A new report by the All Party Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group (OLDG) highlights a “horrific” lack of pain relief for babies in late-term abortions. Evidence The report, ‘Late-Term Abortion and Foetal Pain – Proposing a Humane Response’, examines scientific evidence from around the world that shows unborn babies feel pain before 20 weeks. The…
Pope establishes Worldwide Prayer Network as Vatican entity The Vatican announced December 3 that Pope Francis has established the Worldwide Prayer Network Foundation as an entity with canonical and Vatican juridical identity. Formerly known as the “Apostleship of Prayer,” the Worldwide Prayer Network works “to coordinate and animate the vast spiritual movement, always very dear…
The Irish Bishops Conference have called on parishes to support charities as Covid-19 takes a toll on donations. In a statement from the conference, the bishops appealed for people to bring “the hope and joy of Christ’s birth to people who are sick, isolated, lonely or poor”. “A simple act of kindness can make such…
Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne There is widespread relief at a return to public Mass in the Republic, with many parishes now looking to the challenge of having as many people as possible present for Christmas Mass. Catholics in the North, however, will have to wait until December 11 before a return to…
Tribute was paid to Sr Ann Thomas on Liveline earlier this week, as Ger Smith told of her care for himself and his siblings in Ballymun after their mother was taken into care for Schizophrenia. Mr Smith related how himself and his siblings were left in a flat in Ballymun, with his brother being the…
Bishop Paul Dempsey called on Government to recognise the integral role churches play in their communities, saying their work is often overlooked. Heart of society Bishop Dempsey said the Church should be at the heart of society, not at the fringes and it should be “drawn on more from the political sphere”. “I think somehow…
Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals last Saturday, urging them to remain vigilant lest they lose sight of their goal of the cross and resurrection. “All of us love Jesus, all of us want to follow him, yet we must always be vigilant to remain on the road,” Pope Francis said at the consistory .…
The age of social media has given heftier weight to the old saying about how a lie can travel around the world before the truth has put its shoes on. Prime example Here in Ireland, we were given a prime example of this when it was reported that female students at a Catholic school in…
The US Supreme Court said that New York state restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic are a violation of the First Amendment’s protection of free religious exercise. After the ruling the Bishop of Brooklyn, whose diocese was a plaintiff in the suit, said that religious worship should be considered an essential during the coronavirus pandemic. “It…
Churches across Ireland were illuminated red last week to highlight the continuing persecution of Christians around the world. The initiative was inspired by the charity Aid to a Church in Need which supports Christians facing intimidation, torture and even death. St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick, Co. Down along with the crucifixion scene outside, were lit…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady