A respected Papal biographer has called on former president Mary McAleese to “tone down the rhetoric” after she said Pope Francis hasn’t done enough to reform the Church. Dr Austen Ivereigh, who wrote the book The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope, tackled Prof. McAleese after she made the comments on…
The Vatican has dramatically over-ruled a British bishop’s decision to close a parish church. Bishop Peter Brignall had originally told parishioners in Conwy, north Wales that he was forced to close the church due to a shortage of priests to minister in the Diocese of Wrexham. The last Mass was celebrated at St Michael and…
Bishop Fintan Monahan is to become one of the first Irish bishops to lead a group to Medjugorje. It comes after the Vatican changed rules which had banned bishops from leading groups before this point, though they were free to visit the Marian shrine in a private capacity. Bishop Monahan will serve as spiritual director…
Iraqis fear their country, already weary from years of war, may be dragged into a conflict between the United States and Iran, following the US-targeted killing in Baghdad of Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani. “We prayed during the days of Christmas for peace on earth, and the timing of this revenge from America creates in…
As some of the worst wildfires in Australian history rage across four states, thousands of people in affected areas in New South Wales and Victoria continue to be evacuated to safety. Soaring temperatures, often higher than 100°F (37.8°C), and a protracted drought have contributed to an unprecedented national emergency which, by Christmas, had already seen…
Representatives from Knock Shrine have been invited to a celebration in the Vatican at the end of this month which will feature the Our Lady of Knock processional statue. The Mass, which will take place on January 26, will include the statue and the Knock Schola Choir. The representatives from the Shrine have been invited…
Burmese Cardinal Muang Bo has signed an open letter condemning police brutality in Hong Kong over the Christmas holidays. “We have been horrified to see reports of police firing teargas, pepper-spray and rubber bullets at close-range at shoppers, peaceful protesters and innocent by-standers on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and again on Saturday, December…
Ignorance of religion in political and media circles in Ireland could lead to “apathy and violence”, according to a Trinity College Dublin (TCD) professor who is holding a conference on the dangers of religious illiteracy. Dr Fáinche Ryan, Director of the Loyola Institute, told The Irish Catholic: “Today we have a problem in which people think…
An English cardinal has condemned “all expressions of hatred” after anti-Semitic graffiti was daubed across shops, cafes and a synagogue in London. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster denounced the December 29 attacks, which coincided with the Jewish religious festival of Hanukkah. “The recent anti-Semitic graffiti in north London brings shame to us all,” said the…
The late broadcaster Marian Finucane has been described as a woman of great empathy imbibed with a sense of fairness. Mrs Finucane died suddenly at her home in Co. Kildare, and was laid to rest following requiem Mass on Tuesday. Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll told mourners that Mrs Finucane was “such an icon of Irish broadcasting…
Chai Brady