Lay-led services are going to be the future of the Church in Ireland given “declining numbers of clergy” across the island, an Irish priest has said. Speaking in relation to the controversy surrounding the Eucharistic service led by Minister Josepha Madigan at Dublin’s Mount Merrion, Limerick priest Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon said “it is encouraging that…
Buildings where Pope Francis lived when studying English in Ireland are being cleared of tenants while the Jesuits consider the possible sale of the site, The Irish Catholic understands. Worldpriest, the Le Chéile Schools Trust and the Irish Homeopathic Institute are just some of the groups who have had to vacate the complex at Milltown…
Matthew Carlson Listening is the most important thing parishes can do to help bridge gaps between gay people and the Church, a prominent speaker at the upcoming World Meeting of Families has said. “The most important thing that parishes, priests and ordinary parishioners can do for LGBT people is clear: Listen to them,” Fr James…
The Archbishop of Adelaide was sentenced to a 12-month sentence on Tuesday after being convicted in May of failing to report allegations of child sexual abuse disclosed to him in the 1970s. Archbishop Philip Wilson is likely to serve his sentence under house arrest, and be fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, according to media…
Chai Brady and Matthew Carlson Church-goers are “upset and angry” after it was revealed a group of people are ordering tickets for the Pope’s Mass only to destroy them, according to a parish priest. The ‘Say Nope to The Pope’ group has attracted the interest of 5,000 people on Facebook, with many people posting that they are ordering…
Religious liberty advocates were pleased with the US Supreme Court’s order to send Arlene’s Flowers vs State of Washington and Arlene’s Flowers vs Ingersoll back to the lower court for review. Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, declined a customer’s request to make custom floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding. She…
The Bishop of Killaloe has called on water suppliers to make allowances for the farming community as a drought continues in Ireland and water restrictions are placed in hard hit areas. Also keep an “eye out” for elderly neighbours as temperatures look likely to stay around the mid-20s in Ireland, bishops and clergy have warned…
Davis Clark A prominent Irish Columban missionary has denounced priests who arm themselves, saying clerics should not be “ready to kill”. Almost 200 Catholic priests have applied for gun permits in the Philippines this year against a background of a series of clergymen being murdered. The murders have led the Philippine National Police to categorise…
A body representing a quarter of Catholic priests in Ireland will be hosting a number of meetings ahead of the Papal visit for the World Meeting of Families this August. The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) will host four public regional meetings on the theme of “What do we need to say to Pope Francis…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should talk with the country’s religious leaders in person and not use representatives, according to a senior Church official. Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs committee of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said “actual dialogue” with the president would be better. Early this week, Duterte named a four-man team to…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly
Chai Brady