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…
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…
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…
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly