The Pope may have to fast-track a replacement for Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in Dublin or face the prospect of the country’s largest diocese not having a bishop for up to a year, The Irish Catholic understands. Informed sources confirm that Dr Martin – who is due to reach the mandatory age of 75 at which he…
We have moved too far away from traditional fasting says a Glenstal Abbey monk. Fr Fintan Lyons OSB, has said “I feel we have gone too far in avoiding the older practice of fasting from food; in the Church’s tradition it was associated with feasts, the fast before the feast, and based on what the…
Pro-life campaigner Katie Ascough has hit back at comments made by the President of University College Dublin (UCD) in a Sunday newspaper. Prof. Andrew Deeks spoke about the impeachment of the former Students’ Union president and her claims of discrimination by lecturers due to her religious beliefs in the Sunday Independent article. Ms Ascough, who…
Catholic bishops from around the world are calling on the Cameroon government to hold urgent peace talks with the country’s English-speaking separatists and moderates. Church leaders are urging the country’s president, Paul Biya, to enter into negotiations to find a peaceful settlement that addresses the grievances of the Anglophone community. A Swiss NGO has offered…
The Jesuits are completing extensive utility works at their 10.5 acre site in Milltown Park – a prime real estate location in Dublin – following its €66m sale . The Irish Catholic believes the site in the prized residential area of Ranelagh was sold to Ardstone Capital for circa €66m after intense competition, €10m more…
Trócaire has defended its commitment to a low carbon footprint after it came in for criticism for the volume of paper used for their Lenten campaign. Fr Ted Sheehan of Glounthane Parish in Cork has said he has complained to the charity every year for the last four years – asking them to reduce the…
Catholic officials in Hong Kong have been forced to cancel all Church programs for the next two weeks and cancel the Ash Wednesday liturgy due to the growing threat of the coronavirus. All public Masses on Sundays and weekdays from February 15-28 and the liturgy of Ash Wednesday have been suspended, said Cardinal John Tong,…
An online publication has rebuked claims that a recent investigative report into an international pro-life group was fuelled by bias. Heartbeat International (HBI) had issued a statement on February 13 which said that an investigation into their crisis pregnancy centres throughout the world by openDemocracy was swayed by pro-choice bias. However, openDemocracy said that HBI’s…
An Irish priest would be prepared to die rather than leave the Faithful in Hong Kong despite the Covid-19 (coronavirus) scare, leading to all Church services in Hong Kong being cancelled. Fr Michael Cuddigan SSC of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Central, Hong Kong, said despite increased tensions regarding Covid-19 he won’t be…
Only 32% of Irish people trust religious leaders, according to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer. This is the second lowest trust score of leaders ahead of the very wealthy (24%) and behind government leaders (36%), CEOs (38%), journalists (42%) and scientists (79%). The survey took in over 34,000 responses globally and 1,150 from Ireland between…
Chai Brady