Survivor group ‘plotted’ against priest – Judge A judge in the US state of Kansas has criticised the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) for refusing to comply with a court order to reveal emails and texts relevant to allegations of abuse made against a priest.  District Judge Carol Jackson ruled on August 22 that SNAP had plotted against…

A young father has spoken powerfully of how his faith helped him to cope with the tragic illness and death of his infant daughter.  Speaking to the Sunday Independent newspaper six months after the death of baby Mary, Co. Antrim man Rodney Beggs revealed the heartache that came with being informed by doctors that his…

Three Christian Patriarchs in Syria have urged the international community to lift sanctions imposed on the country in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. In a message co-signed by Patriarchs John X of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch,  Gregory III Laham of the Greek-Melkite community and Syrian Orthodox Mar Ignatius Aphrem…

The newly crowned Rose of Tralee has spoken of the importance of Catholic education in shaping her life.  Still getting used to her place in the limelight after her success at the annual gathering, Chicago native Maggie McEldowney revealed in one of her earliest interviews: “My faith is a very important part of my life.” …

It has been reported that the case of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan, will be heard again by the Supreme Court in October. According to Vatican Insider. Joseph Nadeem, who has been providing legal assistance to the woman, confirmed that a request has been made to have the case heard…

All the fighting factions in Colombia must be involved in the peace process which cannot just be an agreement among leaders, but must come from the people too, according to two Comboni missionaries in Ireland. Fr Rubén Padilla Rocha based in the Dublin Comboni Missionary office which supports some projects in Colombia, said he had…

The place of Christianity in the Middle East has been defended by a Jordanian prince and a Jewish expert in interfaith dialogue. In an effort to counter the narrative of so-called Islamic State (ISIS) that Christianity is a Western import to the Muslim world, Prince Hassan of Jordan, who is founder and president of the…

Staff reporter Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral Mass of former Tánaiste, Peter Barry on Monday at St Michael’s Church in Blackrock, Cork. Chief celebrant Fr Kieran Twomey recalled he first met Peter Barry when he brought him Holy Communion at home. “He had tremendous respect and because he couldn’t stand on his feet he said…

Vatican confirms ongoing negotiations with China Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has confirmed that the Holy See is involved in diplomatic talks with authorities in China.  In the wake of concerns expressed in recent weeks by Church and lay figures in the East as to the status of Catholics in the so-called underground Church should Rome achieve an agreement…

Irish missionary Fr Shay Cullen has been named as the recipient of the 2016 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award. The Columban priest is famed for his work with the poor in the Philippines since 1969, where he established the PREDA Foundation to promote human rights, justice and peace. A champion of the young, he is…