Category: News

In Brief

Ireland 
pays 
tribute 
to 
pro-family 
advocate
 Tributes have poured in for pro-life advocate Nora Bennis, who died at the age of 78 on February 11. The Limerick woman, who was well-known for promoting traditional Catholic values, stood for election in both the European and General Election in 1994 and in 2016. She also initiated a group called the Irish mothers…

In Brief

Housing
 charity 
‘delighted’ 
with 
progress
 Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homeless charity, has welcomed the release of figures showing that housing completions increased by 20% in 2018. The charity said it hoped the increase in the supply of new homes would make it easier to reduce the numbers in homeless hostels, hotels, B&Bs and all other forms…

Missionaries see hope in rise of Venezuelan people

Irish priests promise to stand by the people   Exclusive Irish missionaries in beleaguered Venezuela have said they see fresh hope in large peaceful protests against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Although the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart say the situation in the South American country is much worse now than even a year…

Border priest condemns paramilitary threat

A priest based in a border county has condemned dissident republican activity in the area, after paramilitary arms were found by gardaí over the weekend. Around one thousand rounds of ammunition and a mortar tube were found in two hides, approximately 6km from Omeath, Co. Louth, on Saturday. The ammunition was concealed in lunch boxes…

Calls for Friday Fast to be reintroduced

Reintroiducing meat-free Fridays would help Christian spirituality and the environment according to a monk and a professor. The Friday Fast was changed in 1983 after a decree from the Irish bishops which stated Catholics could fulfil Friday Penance by abstaining from alcohol, smoking, meat or some food, by making a special effort at family prayer…

Celibacy key to full-time advocacy, priest says

Greg Daly and Colm Fitzpatrick   Well-known homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said that celibacy has been essential to enabling him to work for Dublin’s poorest and most marginalised. “From a practical point of view, being a Jesuit you’ve a freedom to work in a way that you wouldn’t be free to work if…

Ashton Kutcher praised for posting pro-life message

US superstar Ashton Kutcher has been praised by pro-life groups after posting a Down syndrome advocate’s powerful testimony in front of Congress. The actor shared the video of Special Olympian Frank Stephen’s pro-life message with the message: “Everyone’s life is valuable.” Kutcher’s post comes amid a reignited debate partly led by New York’s recent passing of…

Fr Cummins recalled as a ‘great man’ at funeral

Tributes have been pouring in after a Laois-based priest died in a tragic accident involving his car, with Bishop Denis Nulty describing his death as “heart-wrenching” in his funeral homily over the weekend. Fr John Cummins (52) of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, died after an incident at his home on the Ballinakill Road on January 30…