Pope Francis has named Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta as the new archbishop of Washington. The appointment was announced today in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Gregory, 71, a former president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops who helped navigate the conference through the clergy sexual…
Perry West New legislation in Alabama would ban all abortions in the state, except in cases where the mother faces a “serious health risk”. The bill, introduced in both the Alabama House and Senate on April 2, would make it a felony for doctors to perform or attempt an abortion. Women would not be…
Priests warn of ‘horrendous’ problems from EU clock change An EU plan that would see a different time-zone on either side of the border would leave parishioners not only divided by the border, but also by different clocks. Local priests have warned of “horrendous” confusion for parishioners with one saying “God help us” if…
The Church runs the risk of becoming a museum unless it can learn to reach out more to young people, Pope Francis warned this week. The Pontiff insisted that young people will not find the Church credible if it seems to be constantly on the defensive and focused on a small number of issues. Francis…
The Irish head of Britain’s leading Catholic college is to step down from his role next year to take up a new post in Australia. Prof. Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, will step down from the role in the first quarter of 2020 to become Vice-Chancellor at the University of Notre Dame…
To fight clerical sexual abuse, the Catholic Church must have clear laws and procedures, but it also must engage in “spiritual combat”, because it is obvious the devil is at work, Pope Francis said. Speaking to reporters on March 31 on his way back to Rome from Morocco, the Pope said stopping abuse requires a…
Renowned exorcist Fr Pat Collins is due to give a rare insight into demonic activity in Ireland with a public talk in Dublin based on his best-selling book Freedom from Evil Spirits. Following a gripping television interview on the Late Late Show in which the Dublin-based priest claimed that a “tsunami of evil is washing over Ireland”,…
Two Dublin Catholic primary schools sent letters to parents saying a potential change in patronage would end in-school celebration of religious holidays, sparking a row among parents. The schools, Scoil Naomh Mearnóg and Scoil an Duinnínigh, are among the eight the Dublin Archdiocese has asked to consider a change of patronage, after a Department of…
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland is warning against the government’s restriction of free speech, amid fears that the Church’s stance on marriage and sexuality could make Catholics susceptible to hate crime allegations. “Care must be taken to allow room for debate and a robust exchange of views, ensuring that ‘hate’ doesn’t include the kind…
Church communities and parish activities can play a vital role in tackling the problem of loneliness which is becoming more prevalent in Ireland, Waterford and Lismore’s Bishop Phonsie Cullinan has said. Bishop Cullinan has urged those feeling lonely or isolated to turn their heads towards the Church, where they will be welcomed by a supportive…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly