Church leaders in Bangladesh have launched a campaign to plant 400,000 trees across the country to mark the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si’, the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of the nation’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bishops led by Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka Archdiocese inaugurated the…
Pope baptises conjoined twins separated by Vatican’s Bambino Gesu Hospital Two conjoined twins successfully separated in June by surgeons at the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospitalhave recently been baptised by Pope Francis. The Baptism of babies Ervina and Prefina at the Pope’s residence of Casa Santa Marta, was announced by Central African Republic politician, Antoinette Montaigne.…
After election in Belarus, Catholic leaders urge restraint, dialogue Catholic leaders have urged dialogue and restraint in Belarus amid violent street clashes following a contested presidential election on August 9. “The two sides clearly have to talk if this dangerous situation isn’t to deteriorate,” said Fr Yuri Sanko, spokesman for the Belarusian bishops’ conference. “Although…
Exclusive Everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult for Christians in Lebanon An Irishwoman who works in Beirut has warned that the people of Lebanon have lost hope amidst anti-government protests in the wake of a deadly explosion that killed hundreds of people and has been widely blamed on political corruption. Anna Sophia Gallagher [pictured], originally…
Outspoken priest and campaigner for the vulnerable Fr Peter McVerry SJ has urged the Government to declare the plight of the homeless as a national emergency insisting that Covid-19 “has aggravated the underlying issues.” This comes after a report revealed that 31 homeless people have died in Dublin this year, in contrast to 35 in…
Senators and TDs have queried whether the Government plans to replace swearing religious oaths with a ‘truth statement’, describing such plans as a “false concept of pluralism”. A new bill currently being discussed proposes the use of a ‘truth statement’ in place of a religious oath or similar secular profession. Senator Rónán Mullen asked the…
An NBA (National Association of Basketball) player in the US has said that the Bible “will help bring us close together and get past skin colour”. The Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, who is black, was the first NBA player to stand for the national anthem after the league was postponed for 20 weeks due…
Ruadhán Jones, Chai Brady and Jason Osborne Priests in parishes in Laois, Offaly and Kildare say that the local lockdowns have been met with a mixture of “frustration and disappointment”, as most parish activities were shut down overnight. “The last time the response was fear, this time it’s more frustration,” says Fr Tom Cox of…
Chai Brady hears about the tensions and trauma following Lebanon explosion Lebanon continued to lead international headlines this week after an explosion at Beirut’s port claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a country wracked by inflation and accusations of a corrupt, now defunct, government that had “utter disregard for the value of Lebanese…
Pope Francis has hailed John Hume’s tireless commitment to the peace process. In a message read at Mr Hume’s funeral in Derry, the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that the Pope was saddened to hear that Mr Hume (83) had died on August 3. “Mindful of the Christian Faith that inspired John…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones