The Church needs to “go back to basics” if it wants to continue the work of Christ in a “more secular society” and “different place” today, Waterford and Lismore’s bishop has said. Writing in the Irish Examiner, Dr Alphonsus Cullinan said: “With the emergence of a more secular society and the decline in the Church’s…
Chairpersons from local Men’s Sheds from across Ireland say they are struggling to find funding and stay afloat. With help from the local community and the Church some have managed to continue but several have reportedly closed across Dublin and Cork, which could just be the tip of the iceberg according to organisers. This comes…
Matthew Carlson Although it is a bit of a stretch to associate religion with the success rates of the World Cup, one can’t help but wonder. Three of the four teams reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup come from predominantly Catholic countries. Although this isn’t really new, it’s no doubt that this World…
Pope Francis has named an Italian journalist with decades of experience in print, radio and television broadcasting to head the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication, the first time a lay person has headed a Vatican department. Paolo Ruffini (61), who was in charge of the Italian conference of Catholic bishops’ TV and radio network, was named…
There was joy and relief as the news broke that divers in northern Thailand have rescued 12 boys and their football coach from flooded caves, 17 days after they got trapped underground. The plight of the group and the dangerous work to free them has gripped the world’s attention. Parishioners in Ireland were amongst those…
A leading homelessness charity has welcomed Fianna Fáil’s new bill that aims to ensure household loans can’t be sold to unregulated vulture funds, saying they “could be doing and could have done a lot more”. Founder of Focus Ireland, Sr Stan Kennedy, criticised the party’s abstention in December 2016 when the Government voted down the…
An English bishop warned Catholics to be alert to the possible deliberate killings of seriously ill patients in state-funded hospitals. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth issued a pastoral message to clergy and laity after the publication of a report, which concluded that 650 people died in a hospital within his diocese after they were given…
The Vatican has released a document that establishes norms and principles for women who dedicate their lives as consecrated virgins, outlining their place in the life of the Church. Presenting the new document at the Vatican press office, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of…
Thousands of people travelled to Stormont for the All Ireland Rally for Life in Belfast on July 7 to uphold laws in the north of Ireland “that protect unborn babies”. Northern Ireland’s Precious Life said the rally gave the people of Ireland an opportunity to send out a clear message to politicians that Ireland’s unborn…
A documentary which falsely accused an Irish missionary of child sexual abuse and fathering a child while in Kenya was the sole instance of irresponsible journalism by RTÉ cited by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at a New York event, Mr Varadkar has said. Speaking in the Dáil about his controversial comments, the Taoiseach said: “My only…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady