Elise Harris In his message for this year’s World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis challenged Catholics on their attitude toward the impoverished, asking whether they really listen to and love the needy, or engage in charity only to please themselves. “The condition of poverty cannot be expressed in a word but becomes a…
Bro. Kevin sees trip as a boost for the forgotten ChaiBrady and Colm Fitzpatrick The decision by Pope Francis to spend part of his trip to Ireland with homeless people will shed a light on those being left behind by the economic recovery, campaigners in the frontline have said. The Society of St Vincent de Paul…
A speech by the Children’s Minister during the launch of plans to overhaul childcare funding has been said to ignore “the reality of life for many families”. Minister Katherine Zappone’s announcement of a 10-year plan to be handled by a new ‘Parenting and Family Unit Policy Unit’ in her department received criticism from Maria Steen…
A pro-life group have pledged they will pressure legislators to make provisions for doctors to opt out of providing abortion on conscientious objection grounds, regardless of whether they are asked to facilitate abortions directly or indirectly. The Love Both campaign revealed at a press conference that they will be making a case for the law…
The Primate of All Ireland has said he isn’t “ruling out the possibility” of Pope Francis visiting the North of Ireland at some point in the future, and that it may have to be a “specific” visit. Speaking in Maynooth University on June 11, Archbishop of Armagh Eamonn Martin said there’s disappointment at the “level…
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid from his post in the Diocese of Osorno after he was accused of covering-up for Chile’s most notorious abuser priest, Fernando Karadima. The Vatican announcement over the weekend also included the accepted resignation of two other Chilean bishops. Bishop Barros submitted his resignation to…
Matthew Carlson Family carers in Ireland account for six million unpaid hours of work. This approximates to about €4 billion each year. According to Liam O’Sullivan, executive director of Care Alliance Ireland, their organisation has €10,000 less this year to use for initiatives to reach out to carers, and that more help from the Government…
The Church must discover new ways to provide the Eucharist and pastoral support to the people of the Amazon, especially indigenous people threatened by forced displacement and exploitation, a new document has said. The Vatican released the preparatory document for the special Synod of Bishops on the Amazon on June 8. The synod gathering in…
The Church in Congo have said emergency measures will remain indefinitely in place in parishes at risk of Ebola, and urged effective action against the disease by the government of President Joseph Kabila. “Although Masses are continuing, sacraments such as Baptism and Confirmation have had to be suspended,” said Msgr Jean-Marie Bomengola, secretary of the…
Matthew Carlson On May 31, An Post released a new stamp in honour of the 1,400-year anniversary of the death of St Kevin. St Kevin was an Irish saint, born in 498 in County Wicklow and played an instrumental part in the role of Christianity in Ireland and Europe. St Kevin reportedly died on June…
Chai Brady