Leaders of the main religious traditions in Ireland have said it is vital to focus on restoring devolution in the North, which must happen through “ongoing dialogue”. Bishops and religious met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, on October 8 at Stormont House in Belfast. The meeting took…
Category: News
New Vatican ambassador already at work
Ireland’s new ambassador to the Vatican is already working in Rome and will formally present his credentials to Pope Francis next month. Ambassador-Designate Derek Hannon succeeds Emma Madigan as Irish Ambassador to the Holy See. Ms Madigan, who was appointed to the role in 2014, is widely acknowledged as having played a key role in…
Prof. who called for senators’ ‘miserable death’ to take leave
A Catholic university professor’s tweets that white Republican men should die a “miserable death” for supporting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court are more than just about free speech, the head of Students for Life of America has warned. “Recommending violence, death and mutilation for members of Congress is not a simple ‘free…
North Korea would welcome Pope
The leader of North Korea wants Pope Francis to visit his country and believes he would be welcomed “enthusiastically”, according to South Korean officials. Kim Jung Un is said to have expressed his desire for the Pontiff to make the trip to Pyongyang during his latest summit with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in last month.…
Vatican Roundup
Cardinal: damage of abuse scandal caused by Church leadership, not media The days of making “weak excuses” in response to the sexual abuse crisis are over, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising has warned. The fallout and damage that has resulted, he added, “has not been caused by the press doing their job…
Budget for abortion is ‘obscene’, say PLC
Pro-life activists have described as “obscene” the setting aside of €12 million in the Government’s budget for the initial roll out of abortion in Ireland. The Government made clear yesterday that the €12 million contained in the budget is not the total cost envisaged for abortions but just an initial roll out cost, campaigners have…
‘Gay cake’ controversy: Supreme Court rules in favour of Christian bakery
BREAKING NEWS The UK’s highest court has ruled that a Northern Ireland bakery’s refusal to make a cake with a message supporting same-sex marriage was not discriminatory. The Supreme Court found today that the Christian owners of Ashers bakery did not discriminate against a customer and did not refuse to bake the cake because…
Youth should be heard not lectured, says bishop at youth synod
The Catholic Church needs to communicate the beauty and intelligence of Faith to young men and women without resorting to condescending and aggressive methods, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron of Los Angeles told members of the Synod of Bishops. A “renewed apologetics and catechesis” can help young people who are tempted to leave the Church due…
Bishops request politicians ‘respect’ objection to abortion referrals
Healthcare professionals who opt out of providing abortion should not be forced to make referrals to a colleague, Ireland’s bishops have told politicians who are currently debating the legislation. The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference have said that because abortions are expected to be drug induced in the first 12 weeks, the right to conscientious objection…
Church warns homelessness must be Budget No. 1 priority
Pope’s Capuchin Day Centre visit inspires plea Greg Daly and Colm Fitzpatrick Taking their lead from the Pope’s outreach to the most marginalised in our communities, Church leaders have urged the Government to make tackling Ireland’s homelessness crisis its top priority. According to ‘A Room at the Inn?’, a pastoral letter from the hierarchy on homelessness, housing…