Former Archbishop Philip Wilson will serve a maximum 12-month sentence in home detention for concealing child sexual abuse, an Australian court has ruled. This decision means Wilson (67) will avoid jail. He resigned as archbishop of Adelaide after his conviction and has become the world’s most senior cleric to be convicted of the crime. His…
Musical icon Sir Cliff Richard has said that his Faith supported him during his battle with sexual assault allegations which were made in 2013. In a radio interview with Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio One last week, the famous singer described how his Faith got him through the trial. “My Faith, my fans, friends, my…
A group of 20 people have joined together to take on a gruelling 220km pilgrimage from Clare to Dublin to welcome Pope Francis to Ireland. Beginning on August 15 after 11am Mass the walkers will set off from Nenagh Parish and eventually aim to arrive at the Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin, on August 26 for…
The Argentine senate has voted against a bill that would have decriminalised abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Senators voted 38-31 against the measure last week following a 15-hour debate. The measure had been approved in June by the lower house of Congress. The Argentine bishops’ conference hailed the vote, saying the debate…
Irish banks selling to vulture funds will lead to a “greater risk” of people losing their homes, and “do little” to curb the fragility of the current housing crisis, a prominent charity has said. Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homeless charity, said that the recent move by Ulster Bank to sell more than…
Church agency Caritas has launched a project that aims to end hunger across South Asia by 2030. Caritas India introduced the programme in collaboration with its international partners to help farmers adapt methods to cope with erratic climate conditions. “Climate change is a global challenge and affects agricultural production and human well-being. It hits hardest…
Booking demand for public transport in the North of Ireland is “strong” ahead of the papal visit events later this month, a spokesperson for Translink has said. Translink, which provides train and bus services across the North of Ireland and to Dublin, said that there are numerous transport services available on August 25-26 to bring…
10 commandments for driving to Knock Mayo County Council has issued ‘10 Commandments of Road Safety’ for pilgrims planning on joining the Pope at Knock Shrine later this month. With 45,000 people due to join Pope Francis at the shrine on August 26, Mayo council has encouraged people to travel to Knock by public transport, but have advised the 91%…
Irish prisoners should be given amnesty for papal visit Hundreds of unfairly-incarcerated prisoners across Ireland should be released to mark the Pope’s visit to the country this month, Jesuit campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said. The prominent priest said that there are a “significant number” of people in prison who are there for relatively…
Warnings that worshippers at the closing Mass for the World Meeting of Families run a risk of contracting infectious diseases have been overstated, a leading doctor has said. Dr Jack Lambert, consultant in infectious diseases in Dublin’s Mater Hospital, told RTÉ Radio it was “very unlikely” that pilgrims to the August 26 Mass in the…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady
Greg Daly