A senior Catholic Church official called on Philippine legislators to work for the benefit of the people and not blindly follow what President Rodrigo Duterte wants, including his plan to reinstate the death penalty. Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, urged members of Congress “not to pass measures just…
Pope calls for ‘apostolate of prevention’ against abuse In an unscripted video message that appears to have been recorded on a mobile phone, Pope Francis spoke of the need for an “apostolate of prevention” to protect minors from abuse. “Prevention. Prevention. Because you never know where a child will be abused, where the child will…
New law shortens euthanasia wait time New legislation in Oregon shortens an initial waiting period for some persons seeking assisted suicide, allowing them to receive quicker access to life-ending drugs. Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law on July 23. It had passed the Senate in May and the House of Representatives in June.…
The role of female laity must be “enhanced” so that they are brought into the decision-making process of the Church, Armagh’s new Auxiliary Bishop has said. Speaking ahead of his ordination Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, Dr Michael Router told this newspaper that the majority of worshippers are female, and stressed that the…
The Church response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been “amazing” according to a Trócaire worker currently in the country. The Head of Humanitarian Programmes for Ireland’s Church-charity, Noreen Gumbo flew to the DRC after the World Health Organisation announced last week the disease’s spread was an emergency of…
Public concern about housing and homelessness is set to be a defining issue in the next general election, Focus Ireland has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mike Allen of Focus said widespread concern on doorsteps about the housing crisis has not yet manifested in the ballot box. “I think some of the political strategists…
Near-empty churches and unused parish land should be repurposed to help save the environment, a leading eco-theologian has said. Kevin Hargaden of Dublin’s Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice told this newspaper that instead of being dispersed over a number of churches, parishioners should gather in “larger groups”, creating opportunities for vacant churches to be…
After Massgoers’ prayers for golfer Shane Lowry were answered over the weekend, there is “tremendous excitement” in Clara parish, a local priest has said. Shane returned home to the small Offaly town on Wednesday and received a hero’s welcome after winning the British Open. Commenting on Shane’s mother Bridget clutching a statue of St Anthony…
The search for the remains of missing 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi took another twist as Vatican officials discovered “thousands” of human bones in a previously unknown ossuary over the weekend. It is unclear if any of the bones belong to Orlandi, or how old they are. On July 11, the Vatican opened two tombs belonging to…
The canonisation cause of a famous Irish-American priest has taken a key step forward with the presentation in the Vatican of a summary of records about his life. A positio about Roscommon-born Fr Edward Flanagan, founder of Nebraska’s Boys Town community was presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on Monday July 22,…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady
Greg Daly