Continued failure to restore a devolved government in Northern Ireland “drains hope from our society” Church leaders have said in a New Year message. Archbishop Eamon Martin, along with the heads of Ireland’s Christian churches, said it is the vulnerable that suffer the most as the ongoing stalemate enters its third year. The situation “has…
A Pakistani court sentenced Christian brothers Qaisar and Amoon Ayub to death for blasphemy after they were convicted of insulting the Islamic prophet Mohammed in articles and portraits posted on their website. Qaisar (44) and Amoon (38) have been held in Jhelum District Jail, Punjab province, 200km north of Lahore, since they were arrested in…
The American group who led Ireland’s largest women’s retreat last year have said they will return to Ireland this year and feel they have more work to do in the country. Highlighting the importance of links built with the Irish co-ordinators of November’s retreat, which saw 250 women gathering at the Emmaus Centre in Swords,…
Europe could die without a civilisation to give it life, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Why do some civilisations collapse to dust, whereas others are able to grow stronger and stronger? A quick glance at history’s fallen cultures like the Sumerian and Babylonian civilisations, as well as the Roman Empire, highlight the unwavering mortality of societies,…
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review into the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and how much help they get from the United Kingdom. The review, to be led by the Anglican Bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen, will look at government efforts to help some of the 215 million Christians who…
Pro-life activist Michael O’Dowd is to run for election to the European Parliament. The Renua Ireland member has announced that he plans to run in the North-West Midlands constituency vowing that the theme of his campaign will be ‘Family, Community & Country’. Mr O’Dowd said that “today, if you have a traditional view, you are…
Defending and protecting human life means rejecting abortion, caring for the sick, offering a decent welcome to immigrants, valuing the contributions of the elderly, encouraging families to have children and caring for the environment, the bishops of Italy have said. “We are called to welcome life before and after its birth, in every condition and…
The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, will meet survivors of clerical abuse before the highly anticipated Vatican meeting on the Protection of Minors from February 21-24, 2019. “As a priest and bishop, I have already met many survivors and have always found it a humbling yet important and worthwhile experience,” he told CatholicIreland.net,…
Bishop Silvio Jose Baez has reiterated his calls for dialogue and respecting human dignity in Nicaragua, where the president has crushed protests, closed critical media outlets and persecuted anyone – including priests – publicly opposing his administration. “Dialogue is not a fad or simple political strategy,” Bishop Baez said in his Christmas homily. “When we…
Amid Lebanon’s political and economic strife and uncertainty in the Middle East, Catholic patriarchs urged their faithful to forge ahead in hope at Christmastime. At least two patriarchs expressed concern about Lebanon’s failure to form a new government since parliamentary elections in May. In his Christmas message, Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of Maronite Catholics,…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick