Two well-known religious centres in Dublin, the Emmaus Centre in Swords and St Peregrine’s oratory in Rathfarnham shopping centre, have been “forced to close” due to the effects of lockdown. The Emmaus Centre, run by the Christian Brothers, provided facilities for human, spiritual and religious development for over 40 years to school children, religious and…
A priest famous for his humanitarian work, particularly with victims of childhood sexual abuse, Fr Shay Cullen of the Preda Foundation has criticised one of Netflix’s latest offering Cuties, describing it as “playing into the whole paedophilia-sex industry”. The film follows a group of 11-year-old girls as they take to ‘twerking’ – a dance form…
An Irish missionary prelate has taken over the administration of a South African diocese after an apostolic visitation, meaning the current bishop will just be the diocese’s “spiritual head”. Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM, the retired bishop of Pretoria archdiocese who has spent almost half a century ministering in South Africa, was appointed apostolic administrator of…
More than €65,000 has been donated by Irish members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (OHS) to Christians in the Holy Land. The livelihoods of Holy Land Christians have been devasted by Covid-19, leaving them heavily reliant on charitable aid, according to the OHS, an order dedicated to the Holy Land. Following an appeal…
Figures from the Department of Health show that while there were 7,536 initial consultations for aborting a pregnancy, 6,666 abortions actually took place. The Department released the figures following a recent parliamentary question from TD Carol Nolan. Ms Nolan said that the figures show that many women have not “bought into” the efforts to normalise…
A priest based in Fermanagh has said Boris Johnson is not taking the Good Friday Agreement “seriously” in the wake of the UK prime minister introducing legislation that would override the Brexit treaty. Provisions in the UK Internal Market Bill would give Mr Johnson’s government the power to override key provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement,…
Catholic leaders and academics have voiced their support following President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court. Tributes to the Catholic judge and nominee followed Ms Barrett’s official presentation in the White House Rose Garden Saturday evening, after a week of speculation that she was…
The chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee applauded President Donald Trump’s signing the ‘Born Alive Executive Order’ to ensure babies born alive receive care. The order, which Mr Trump signed the evening of September 25, means “babies born prematurely or with disabilities receive a basic medical assessment and appropriate care as required by our federal laws”, said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann…
Bishop Martin Hayes has told Kilmore diocese’s newest priest that his calling “may cause many to be fearful” but that he must “seek out the lost” as the current pandemic continues to cause strife across Ireland. Fr Thomas Small from Belturbet, Co. Cavan, was ordained to the priesthood over the weekend in the Church of…
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has highlighted the uncertainty surrounding staff cuts and the provision of safeguarding courses due to Covid-19 in a letter to mark Dublin Diocesan Safeguarding Day 2020. Dr Martin said that the archdiocese of Dublin must consider how best to maintain safeguarding as a priority while facing the challenges Covid-19 presents. “You will…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady