The resignation of the president of South Africa is long overdue, the country’s bishops said, noting that his scandal-plagued presidency fostered corruption. While Jacob Zuma was in power, the bishops said, there was dereliction of duty at all levels of government. “The fact that Mr Zuma has been allowed to hold on to the highest…
Pope Francis has said he tries to dialogue with those who disagree with him in the hope that he will learn something; but he just prays for those who call him a heretic. “When I perceive resistance, I seek dialogue whenever it is possible; but some resistance comes from people who believe they possess the…
As it loses its grip in the Middle East, the Islamic State is finding a foothold in Somalia, said a bishop who oversees the Catholic Church in the troubled country. The insurgent group – linked to mass killings, abductions and beheadings in Iraq and Syria, where it is facing defeat – see Somalia as a…
The World Meeting of Families is a time when Ireland will be at the “centre of the world” and is an opportunity for organisers to highlight climate change issues, the Secretary General of the world’s largest Catholic Charity has said. Michel Roy of Caritas Internationalis – a worldwide confederation of over 165 Caritas organisations –…
Fr Pat Ahern, founding member of Siamsa Tire, the National Folk Theatre established in 1973, was honoured by Kerry County Council this Monday for his important contributions to the arts in Ireland spanning over four decades. A native of Moyvane, Fr Ahern, was artistic director of the theatre until 1997, and also took part in broadcasting…
Microplastics (small plastic fragments) and microbeads (in personal care products), are contaminating fish in the north west Atlantic, 600m down in the ocean, according to an Irish study in Frontiers in Marine Science. NUIG scientists took 233 dead deep-sea fish from North Atlantic mid water trawls and discovered that 73% had ingested plastic. “Some of…
Reflect on what corrodes Faith during Lent – Pope Lent is a time for Christians to get their hearts in sync with the heart of Jesus, Pope Francis said. “Let the Lord heal the wounds of sin and fulfil the prophecy made to our fathers: ‘A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I…
Ireland is performing in the bottom half of 15 similar European countries on a range of social, economic and environmental indicators, a new study has revealed. Published yesterday by Social Justice Ireland (SJI), Measuring Progress: Economy, Society and Environment in Ireland 2018 assessed performance across the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlighted Ireland’s…
An investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and cover-up in Chile will continue despite the prelate tasked with leading it having been admitted to hospital for gallbladder surgery, it has been announced. Malta’s Archbishop Charles Scicluna was in Chile to meet with survivors of abuse from Fr Fernando Karadima, who in 2011 was found guilty…
When people are unable to love or accept a child with problems or illness, many times it’s because they are too weak themselves to be able to bear someone else’s vulnerabilities, Pope Francis told a group of children and young people who are wards of the state. “If I have a giant rock, I can’t…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick