As borders reopen across Europe, Niall Glynn of Marian Pilgrimages is “cautiously optimistic” that pilgrimages can begin in late July or early August. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr Glynn said that they will be looking at restarting pilgrimages on a shrine-by-shrine basis. “We’re cautiously optimistic,” he said. “A lot of it will come down to requirements, procedures and policies in the…
The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has lamented a decision by the country’s Supreme Court this week on the legal definition of sex in civil rights law. Archbishop José Gomez issued a statement in response to a case on whether sexual identity and gender identity is covered by laws prohibiting employment…
A young Italian man born in 1991 who is set to be beatified can be an example to Irish youth to be individuals and not fall into depression and drugs, according to the bishop of Waterford and Lismore. Bishop Phonise Cullinan told this paper that computer programmer Carlo Acutis was “obviously in love with God…
A wife and daughter have accused their Christian husband and father of committing blasphemy in the first case of its kind in Pakistan. Anwar Masih from Lahore has been charged under blasphemy law 295-C for uttering blasphemous words about the Prophet Muhmmad (PBUH). Last week, the Civil Line police station registered a case against Mr…
Chai Brady and Aron Hegarty The decision to include the pursuit of exclusion zones outside abortion centres in the Programme for Government has been described as “vindictive” by the Life Institute. The programme set out by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party states the new Government will: “Establish exclusion zones around medical facilities.”…
India’s leading lay organisation has urged the prime minister’s office to consult religious leaders before radical decisions are taken on worship during the Covid-19 lockdown period. At a webinar hosted by the All-India Catholic Union (AICU) last week, Catholic leaders discussed a guideline that the government issued for opening religious places. The guideline allowed opening…
Over a dozen religious leaders have said they are “delighted” the Occupied Territories Bill was dropped in the draft Programme of Government in a statement issued this week, while Trócaire have called for its implementation. Signed by over a dozen clergy and lay people of a variety of denominations, the leaders stated: “This bill was…
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane has pitched for the Church to take a key role in Australia’s Covid-19 recovery efforts, adding that the task cannot be left solely to politicians. “We’re in a situation now where the world has changed, perhaps forever,” said the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference last week. “We now…
Companies operating in Ireland must end the use of child labour in supply chains, said the Cathaoirleach of Ógra Aontú. Speaking on the International Day Against Child Labour, Ben Conroy said “child labour is modern slavery, and our global companies in our society still rely on it”. “At a time in which people are becoming increasingly…
Parishes need “practical advice” from bishops to help with “complex process” of opening churches, said Fr Aquinas Duffy of Cabinteely parish. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Duffy praised the recent framework document published by the Irish bishops, but said that it provided more questions than answers at this point. “They bishops are doing what they…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady