Over 1,000 young people will descend on Kildare this weekend to celebrate one of Ireland’s biggest faith festivals. The Youth 2000 Summer festival – taking place in Clongowes Wood College from August 18-22 – will see young people gather to celebrate their Faith in a fun and vibrant way. “It’s the biggest, most exciting youth…
The standing committee of the Panamanian bishops’ conference has expressed its concern over a migration reform bill, asking that it be humane and respectful of the rights of immigrants and refugees. They urged that immigrants and refugees not be seen as a threat, or blamed for the social ills affecting the country. The bishops released…
Catholics must accompany the excluded and discarded – Pope Christians are called to tend to the wounds of the suffering and the downtrodden just like the apostles who brought comfort and healing to those in need, Pope Francis said. The Church does not close its eyes when confronted with the sufferings of others but instead…
TV star Dog the Bounty Hunter has urged a thief who burglarised his deceased wife’s store to come forward, stressing his actions were unbiblical. Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman said he is willing to forgive the robber if they hand themselves in. His wife, Beth Chapman, last month died after a battle with cancer. Speaking at a…
Caritas volunteer helps in flood rescue mission A 52-year-old Caritas volunteer helped rescue more than two dozen families from a recent flood in Karachi, Pakistan. Francis Javed, a father of six who works as a cobbler, told ucanews.com that he received a phone call from Caritas Pakistan Karachi at 11am on July 30. They warned…
Two bills were announced in Wisconsin this week intended to protect victims of child sexual abuse. The Church in the state registered its strong objection to one bill’s intention to force violation of the seal of confession. The Child Victims Act would remove the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse, while the…
Pope Francis has criticised those who give more consideration to money than the Sacraments or helping others find true wealth – a relationship with Jesus Christ. “How many times do I think of this when I see some parishes where it is thought that money is more important than the Sacraments! Please! A poor Church:…
Irish Catholics should anticipate more attacks on their local churches, a Tipperary-based priest has warned after Nazi swastikas were painted on his Catholic oratory. The warning comes on foot of three attacks on churches in the midlands as well as numerous other recent attacks on religious buildings and statues. Fr Michael Toomey told this newspaper…
Trócaire has dubbed parishes the “life-blood” of the charity after their annual report shows one of the strongest Christmas campaigns in their history. In their report for 2018/2019 the Church-charity raised €2.3 million during its Christmas appeal, a 10% increase on 2017. This was used to assist families affected by conflict in countries such as…
Chai Brady and Colm Fitzpatrick Regular church attendance leads to better mental health because religion gives people “hope, meaning and perspective”, according to one of the country’s leading psychiatrists. Prof. Patricia Casey was reacting to a major new Irish study which looks at people aged 50 or older and finds that those who attend…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady