Schools census figures have revealed there are now more Catholic pupils in schools than ever in the North of Ireland. Government statistics show 175,617 Catholic students enrolled this year, making up 50.7% of all enrolments. This is the first time the figure has increased over 175,000. This is contrasted with a plunge in the amount…
Be inspired by the saints of history, Pope urges In back-to-back audiences with a group of French young people and an Italian association for deaf people, Pope Francis has cited personal example and witness as a vital piece in the Church’s evangelisation mission. Meeting with young people from the Diocese of Aire et Dax in southwestern France, the Pope encouraged them to remain…
Pope Francis appoints new Wisconsin bishop Pope Francis has named Bishop Donald Hying of Gary, Indiana, as the new bishop of Madison, Wisconsin. The appointment was announced on April 25 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. Hying (55) is a native of Wisconsin. He was installed as the…
Police in Glasgow are investigating vandalism committed on Monday at St Simon’s parish, an attack the archdiocese has called ‘shameful’. Local police announced on Twitter “significant vandalism was carried out” in the church on April 29 between 1.30-4 pm. The Archdiocee of Glasgow called it “a shameful attack on a much-loved church”, adding: “Let’s find…
God never tricks, traps or tempts his children to sin or commit evil, Pope Francis has said. God is with his people every step of the way – during times of joy and sadness, triumph and tribulation – and he always helps lead people away from the devil and his temptations, the Pope said during…
The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, named a new director and editorial board for its women’s magazine, Women-Church-World. The announcement came a little more than one month after the magazine’s founder and former director, Lucetta Scaraffia, resigned along with her editorial staff, claiming a lack of trust and support from the new management at the newspaper.…
Chilean bishops said that while they support legislation requiring priests and religious authorities to report crimes, they fear an update to the country’s current law would force clergy to break the sacramental seal of confession. The 155-member Chilean House of Representatives unanimously approved a measure this week that would add clergy and religious men and…
The bishop of Killaloe has called for parishioners to watch out for their elderly relatives, friends and neighbours after a red weather warning was issued for Co. Clare by Met Éireann. As Storm Hannah approaches, Ireland’s forecaster has warned that power outages are likely, and to be careful of falling trees and high waves. Intense…
In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld the long-standing requirement of the House of Representatives that it open each day it is in session with a prayer. The decision from Judges David Tatel, Douglas Ginsburg and Harry Edwards also confirmed that…
Taoiseach accused of ignoring Christian persecution With Easter Sunday seeing hundreds more Christians slaughtered, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stands accused of silence in the midst of mounting Christian persecution around the globe. Some 320 people were killed in Sri Lanka when suspected Islamists targeted churches and hotels on Easter Sunday. Mr Varadkar, who is a…
Chai Brady