Just over half of all Belgians (52%) say they are Catholics, according to a survey carried out by the Church for its first-ever annual report, but fewer than one in ten attends Mass a minimum of once a month. Since it is the first report of its kind in Belgium, it makes no comparison between…
Doctors working in end-of-life care believe the assisted suicide movement is hurting attempts to build a serious palliative care culture, Senator Ronan Mullen has said. Speaking against the background of the publication of a Council of Europe report entitled ‘The Provision of Palliative Care in Europe’, for which Senator Mullen acted as rapporteur, Mr Mullen…
Fr Raymond Husband has been appointed the new regional director of the Columba Missionaries in Ireland. He will be assisted by Fr Gerard Neylon who will serve as the vice-rector. They succeed Fr Pat Raleigh and Fr Padraig O’Donovan. Fr Raleigh wished both priests “the very best in guiding the region over the next three…
Young prisoners not forgotten in World Youth Day plans Encounters with young people in prison and living with HIV will feature in Pope Francis’ itinerary when he visits Panama for World Youth Day, the Vatican has announced. The January 23-27 visit will be the Pope’s 26th trip outside Italy, and will see the Pontiff celebrating two Masses and a penitential liturgy as well…
A leading agency working with people experiencing homelessness has said it expects the crisis to get worse as Christmas approaches. Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) has predicted a “surge” in demand for vital services warning that it has already seen an increased demand on last year in recent months. “We do our best, but we do…
Irish eyes were certainly smiling in Dublin at the weekend as Ireland secured an historic win over the All Blacks, but star player Jacob Stockdale takes it all in his stride putting his rugby career firmly in the hands of God. The Ulster player – who electrified the Aviva Stadium with his winning try over…
A hard border being erected between the north and south will give “oxygen” to dissident groups who will use it as an opportunity to promote paramilitary violence, a well-known priest has said. Fr Gary Donegan CP, nationally renowned for his ongoing commitment to conflict resolution and peace building in the North of Ireland, said that…
Dublin is to host a major retreat for women this weekend as the first international event held by the US-based ‘Blessed Is She’ movement. Originally planned to take place at a city centre location, huge demand meant the two-day retreat had to be moved to the Emmaus Centre in Swords, Co. Dublin, where Archbishop Diarmuid…
A new 32-county, pro-life republican party will give a voice to the disillusioned and unrepresented citizens of Ireland, former Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín has said. The Meath West TD, who resigned from Sinn Féin last week following a six-month suspension for refusing to vote for the removal of the Eighth Amendment, said the new…
The widow of former Munster rugby coach Anthony Foley has said her faith has grown stronger since her husband’s death, and has helped her coped with his loss. Speaking on RTÉ radio, Olive Foley said: “I have a deep faith, and it’s probably even strengthened over the last couple of years and I do believe…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly