Several Catholic bishops in Nigeria’s state of Oyo asked the federal and state governments to consider opening schools and churches closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bishops from six dioceses in and around the city of Ibadan said the closure of schools had increased crimes such as rape and other gender-based violence, especially…
Senator Ronan Mullen has questioned the new Minister for Children’s call to allow u16s to change their gender, saying it must be about children’s welfare not media campaigns. Senator Mullen told The Irish Catholic that “there should be no change in this area without a public debate and careful scrutiny of the issues in the Dáil and Seanad.”…
Homelessness charity Focus Ireland have welcomed the Government’s extension of the current protections for renters until August 1, adding there is a “pressing need” to continue the supports. Government ministers have expressed hopes they will have new legislation in place which will enable the measures to continue. Focus Ireland Policy Coordinator Rosemary Hennigan said the…
A Derry parish has suspended Mass after two parishioners tested positive for coronavirus having attending a family gathering. Fr Neil Farren of Ardmore parish announced the “sad news” in a video on the parish Facebook page. Speaking in the video, Fr Farren said: “I have sad news to relate to you at this time. We…
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, retired prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, has died at the age of 80. A close collaborator with Pope St John Paul II and retired Pope Benedict XVI, the cardinal also spent almost 27 years working in the Apostolic Signature, the Church’s highest court. In a condolence message, Pope Francis said…
Three Catholic-run hospitals providing life-saving services free of charge to vulnerable Syrians hope to aid some 50,000 patients by the project’s end next year. “Institutions in Syria now are having a lot of difficulties…so, this project supporting these hospitals is helping them to go on,” said Flavia Chevallard, project coordinator for Operation Open Hospitals in…
Vatican recognises ‘rogue’ exorcist group A Vatican-recognised group of exorcists has issued a new handbook for practitioners of the Church’s ritual to combat demonic possession, among other things insisting that authority to perform exorcisms belongs exclusively to priests assigned by their diocesan bishop and no one else. According to figures from the group, the move comes…
Summit pushes for Church finance reform Broad reforms that would contribute to greater accountability and transparency regarding Church finances are needed to address the financial crisis the Church faces and is intensifying because of the coronavirus pandemic, said a report emerging from a winter summit of lay, religious and clergy leaders. The report assembled by…
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has insisted that the failure to protect residents in nursing homes from coronavirus must be fully investigated. “The deaths in nursing homes and the failures of the Government is a national scandal and must be examined and investigated to ensure that they never occur again,” he told The Irish Catholic. Of…
Jason Osborne Doras, a Limerick-based migrant and refugee support organisation, has raised renewed concerns over the safety of residents in Direct Provision following the report of alleged sexual assault in an accommodation centre. “People fleeing harm should not be exposed to further harm when they arrive here in Ireland,” said Doras CEO, John Lannon. “The…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady