Tomi Reichental says his experience of the Holocaust was “hell on earth” and fears history may “repeat itself” with the migrant crisis and the rise of populist politics in Europe. The Irish-based 85-year-old survivor drew comparisons of Jews being taken to Nazi concentration camps to refugees being displaced around the continent. He said: “When we…
The Middle East Council of Churches has called for prayer and peace-building initiatives amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the Arab world. The council’s executive committee, concluding a two-day meeting in Cyprus last week, said its gathering occurred “in the midst of the bloody and painful events that beset our countries”. In their…
Prominent theologian Fr Vincent Twomey SVD has said that the Church in Ireland must go farther to atone for the crimes of abuse and cover-up by Church leaders. He warned that “repentance begins with the courageous facing-up to the past and the frank acknowledgment of wrongdoing”. One way of doing this, he said, “would be…
Francis recognises new martyrs of the 20th Century Pope Francis has recognised the martyrdom of six religious priests and brothers and seven laypeople who were killed in the 20th Century “in hatred of the faith”, clearing the way for their beatification. Among the soon-to-be blesseds are three Spanish priests of the Missionaries of the Sacred…
World Visions Ireland has welcomed the first conviction of a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)case in Ireland. On Monday, a married couple were sentenced to prison. The father, aged 37 received five and a half years and the mother, aged 27 received four years and nine months. Fíona O’Malley from the Christian organisation World Visions Ireland…
French protesters march against controversial bioethics bill Debate began on a bioethics bill in the French Senate last week after tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Paris to protest state funding for medically assisted procreation for lesbian couples and single women. “A child is a gift to be received, not an…
Pope Francis has appointed Carlow-born Fr Paul Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry. The announcement was made in a communique released by the Vatican this morning (Monday). Up to this point, Fr Dempsey (48) has been Parish Priest of Newbridge in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin congratulated…
Chai Brady and Aron Hegarty The spate of gang violence, brutal killings and spread of drugs and guns wracking Ireland has provoked condemnation from clergy across the country who are calling for more Garda funding and that illegal drug users “wake up” and stop enabling violence. The burning of a man in Cork, dismemberment of…
Abortion rates fall when the Pope visits an area, with the decrease persisting for over a year according to a new study. Scientists led by a team from the University of Sussex found that people were taking more care not to get pregnant after a papal visit. While the number of abortions dropped, the birth…
Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol will be among the big names attending a cross-community arts festival in Belfast later this month. Along with Bafta award-winning filmmaker and playwright Damian Gorman plus homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry, he will form part of the line-up for the 2020 inter-church 4 Corners Festival. The Festival, now in its…
Chai Brady