More than 100 homes – including a church-run home for disabled war veterans – were forcibly demolished earlier this month by state officials in southern Vietnam. People living in the dwellings, most of whom are Catholic, said they were given little or no warning about the demolitions in Loc Hu’ng near Ho Chi Minh City.…
Category: News
Electoral law reform must focus on transparency, senator says
Transparency and enforceability should be key to any review of Irish electoral law, Senator Ronan Mullen has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic against the background of calls from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that the Electoral Act should be reviewed to prevent a “chilling effect” on the funding and activities of civil…
Young scientists investigate Catholicism in modern Ireland
Young people are more likely to view Catholicism in a positive light compared to their parents, students in a Co. Louth school showcased in the RDS, Co. Dublin, have found. At the 55th BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition last week thousands of students exhibited 550 projects under four categories: technology, biological and ecological, social…
Bishops pray for ‘healing’ of Church and world at retreat
Although the week-long retreat for US Catholic bishops emphasised quiet reflection, several bishops spoke out on social media during the retreat and after it wrapped up last week with positive reactions and to give shoutouts to the retreat leader, Capuchin Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, who has preached to Popes and top officials of the Roman Curia…
Controversial priest criticised over abortion stance
A Jesuit philosopher has criticised the founder of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) for voting in favour of abortion. Referring to a recent blog post by Fr Tony Flannery in which he looked back to the referendum and referred to his own ‘Yes’ vote, Prof. Kevin O’Higgins SJ said on Twitter: “How a Catholic…
Oxford supports academic accused of ‘transphobia’
Oxford University is standing by an emeritus law professor after more than 400 people have signed a petition last week calling for his removal from the university. Petition organisers say the professor holds discriminatory views about homosexuality and transgenderism. “John Finnis, Professor at Oxford’s Law Faculty, has a long record of extremely discriminatory views against…
Celebrating and reflecting on Catholic ethos
A significant milestone was marked in Belfast on Friday January 4 with a celebration to mark the 30th edition of the Le Chéile journal. Published by St Mary’s University College, Belfast the journal seeks to celebrate and promote the values and work of Catholic education across the North. Rev. Dr Niall Coll, Managing Editor of Le…
Readers divided over hospital name
IC readers are split down the middle as to whether a Louth-based hospital named after Our Lady should drop its name given that it is now providing abortions. On the newspaper’s Facebook page, online users were asked: “There is controversy over the naming of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth. Some locals…
Maduro’s presidential term is illegitimate – Venezuelan bishops
The bishops of Venezuela have said that Nicolas Maduro’s swearing in for a second term as president is illegitimate. “The claim to be initiating a new presidential term of office on January 10, 2019 is illegitimate in its origin and opens the door to the nonrecognition of the government, since it lacks democratic support in…
Today’s divisions make Christian unity more urgent – priest
Ecumenism should be taken far more seriously, an Irish priest has urged, ahead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Martin Browne OSB, a Benedictine monk based at Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, and a member of the international group tasked by the Vatican and the World Council of…