Founder member of the leadership team of the Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery [pictured] has thrown down a gauntlet for action instead of words to Dublin’s Archbishop Martin in the wake of Dr Martin’s comments on Mary McAleese. Last week Archbishop Martin said: “Probably the most significant negative factor that influences attitudes to…
Former Taoiseach John Bruton has said that he won’t be voting in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and that Ireland should be “proud” of being one of very few countries which have this constitutional provision. Speaking in Kilkenny on Sunday after the episcopal ordination of Dr Dermot Farrell as Bishop of Ossory, the former…
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has rejected suggestions by former president Mary McAleese that the Eighth Amendment may no longer be fit for purpose, saying Ireland remains one of the world’s safest places for pregnant women. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, Mrs McAleese said she had not decided how she would vote in…
The former editor of Intercom magazine and priest of the Killala diocese Fr Kevin Hegarty has called for priests to absent themselves from the chrism Masses celebrated in cathedrals during Holy week. Fr Hegarty called on priests who agree with Mary McAleese’s “forensic dissection of misogyny in the Catholic Church” to join the boycott. He…
The majority of The Irish Catholic readers disagree with former Irish president Mary McAleese after almost 500 voiced opposition to statements she made over the weekend. In a poll conducted by this paper on social media about 70% of over 650 people answered ‘no’ to the statement: ‘In a recent RTÉ article, former president Mary…
The Church must speak out in defence of the unborn, Tuam’s archbishop has said, maintaining that the taking of innocent human life is the central issue in the abortion debate. In a pastoral letter to the diocese of Tuam released last weekend, Dr Michael Neary said that every human being has the obligation to respect,…
On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election, retired Pope Benedict XVI has defended the continuity of the Church’s teaching under his successor and dismissed those who criticise the Pope’s theological foundations. In a letter sent to Msgr Dario Vigano, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication, Pope Benedict applauded the publication…
The papal nuncio personally visited Mary McAleese to ensure that a letter to Pope Francis about a decision to bar her from speaking at a Vatican conference was delivered to the Pontiff, the former president has revealed. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, Mrs McAleese said the visit had been made on Archbishop Jude…
Sr Karen Kent WMOF Bishop Buckley led the people of Cork & Ross in prayer to welcome the icon when it arrived to our diocese in the Cathedral of Ss Mary and Anne. For this specially prepared liturgy Cllr John Sheehan, representing the Lord Mayor of Cork, and his wife were present along with…
India’s top court has ignited a new religious debate after permitting passive euthanasia, allowing patients to prescribe in their “living will” the withdrawal of medical support if they slip into an irreversible coma. Leaders of India’s Catholics, Muslims and Hindus have opposed the Supreme Court verdict, which says the right to life also includes the right…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly