Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has been accused of “speaking out of both sides of his mouth” after claiming that Christians in the Middle East have asked the Government not to speak up in their defence. Responding to a letter from Senator Neale Richmond about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa,…
Housing scarcity and expensive rents have forced Dublin’s Capuchin’s Day Centre to provide “day-to-day” essentials for children and babies. Speaking in the centre on Monday to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland, its founder Bro. Kevin Crowley OFM Cap. said the welfare of families is a priority, but that the provision…
It is understood that Cardinal George Pell will appeal his conviction to the Australian High Court, following the decision earlier this month by the Court of Appeal in Victoria to uphold his conviction for child sexual abuse. It has been reported that the Australian prelate would be exercising his final appeal and that, while the…
A Scottish parish is praying for one of its young footballers who has just signed on to a premiere league team in a record-breaking deal. St Brendan’s Church, Motherwell, congratulated Kieran Tierney who earlier this month transferred from boyhood club Celtic FC to Arsenal for £25 million (€22.5mil). The parish said they hope the 22-year-old…
The witness of good priests is the best form of vocational promotion, Bishop Phonsie Cullinan has said. Writing for The Irish Catholic, the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, who chairs the Irish Bishops’ Vocations Council, said that while more direct forms of vocational promotion are important, nothing rivals encountering committed clergy living their vocations in…
Thousands of pro-life supporters demonstrated in the streets of Sydney, expressing their opposition to a bill in the New South Wales state parliament that would permit abortion until birth for any reason. The demonstration called on members of parliament (MPs) to defeat the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill that was introduced on August 1. The…
Cloyne’s Bishop William Crean has praised Irish missionaries for having raised awareness of the plight of people around the world affected by climate change. Speaking at a Mass to mark the centenary of St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, Bishop Crean said it was important to “remember with gratitude to God the outstanding contribution of the…
There is a lot of scope for people with intellectual disabilities to be “marginalised”, a leader of a parish group has said in light of reports of mistreatment in a Belfast hospital. Leader of Spred (Special Religious Education) in Holy Rosary Parish in Belfast, Grainne McMacken, said that she was aware of the situation regarding…
A hospital boat named the ‘Pope Francis’ set sail last week in the Amazon River to bring medical care to rural populations. “Just as Jesus, who appeared walking on water, calmed the storm and strengthened the faith of the disciples, this boat will bring spiritual comfort and calm to the worries of needy men and…
The grisly murders of missionary priests and a local priest, a lay volunteer and 40 seminarians in Burundi are the focus of a recently opened investigation into their sainthood cause. Catholic bishops in this central African nation welcomed the step petitioned to the Vatican by the Xaverian Missionaries, founded in 1898 by St Guido Conforti…
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick