Students For Life Ireland has hit out at the Health Minister, Simon Harris, over what it labelled his “obsession” with the abortion issue. Speaking in response the Health Minister’s recent remarks on exclusion zones, a spokesperson for the group said that “any time the Health Minister gets into political difficulty, whenever there is talk of…
Francis apologises for losing patience and slapping woman’s hand Pope Francis apologised last Wednesday for losing his patience with a woman who grabbed his arm in St Peter’s Square on New Year’s Eve. “Many times we lose our patience; me too. I apologise for yesterday’s bad example,” Pope Francis said in a departure from his…
Past decade sees 170,000 children’s rights ‘gravely violated’ – report The past decade saw troubling levels of violence against children, with some 45 children seeing their rights “gravely violated” each day during the 2010s, a new report from the United Nations has said. In total, more than 170,000 children were affected by conflict throughout the…
A festival focused on the environment is being organised during Catholic Schools Week as in the Archdiocese of Dublin at the end of January, with famous climate activist Greta Thunberg being dubbed an “inspiration” for children. The Laudate Festival 2020 will celebrate the theme of Living in Harmony with God’s Creation in song and reflection,…
Priests have expressed the hope that younger Catholics are rediscovering the Sacrament of Reconciliation after reporting a notable upsurge in people availing of Confession this Christmas. Limerick-based Fr Gerard Moloney CSsR said the much talked about “demise of Confession” is “slightly exaggerated”. “We have heard hundreds here in Limerick over the last few days, of…
Irish officials skipped an international meeting highlighting persecuted Christians, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has admitted to the Dáil. He did not give an explanation when questioned by Fianna Fáil’s Seán Haughey. The Second International Conference on Christian Persecution met in Hungary at the end of November and heard from Christians from the Middle East and other…
Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged Catholics not to forget the suffering that is taking place in different parts of the world, particularly as a result of war and conflict. Speaking at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh over Christmas, Archbishop Martin said “there is such a need for the light of Christ…
Renowned boxing star Katie Taylor has said that every time she steps into the ring it’s like an “act of worship” over the weekend, and that she knows her future is in God’s hands. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One Extra, the lightweight world champion said that growing up in a Christian household and going to…
Five people were stabbed in a rabbi’s house on Saturday night in Monsey when a knife-wielding intruder entered the home during Hanukkah celebrations. The suspect was later arrested by New York police. Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel said the suspected attacker entered the residence around 10pm armed with a knife. It is understood those in…
Chilean Church leaders have called for Catholics to respond with prayer and solidarity to aid about 1,000 people who lost their homes in fires that swept through hillside neighbourhoods around the southern port city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Bishop Pedro Ossandon Buljevic, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Valparaiso, urged Catholics to…
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly