Pope Francis is sending the Church’s leading abuse investigator to Chile in order to look into accusations that a bishop covered up crimes against children. The Pontiff has asked Malta’s Archbishop Charles Scicluna to go to the country on behalf of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, to listen to those who say they…
Hatred and violence must find no shelter amongst communities, the priest at the funeral of murder victim Derek Hutch has warned. Mr Hutch (27) was shot dead while he was sitting alone in a car at Bridgeview halting site in Ronanstown, west Dublin on Saturday January 20. He became the 14th victim of what Gardaí…
Catholic education offers a way of bridging religious and secular ways of looking at the world, Killaloe’s Bishop Fintan Monahan has said. Speaking in St Flannan’s College, Ennis, this week, Bishop Monahan launched Catholic Schools Week by calling to mind the motto of Cistercian College, Roscrea, which can be loosely translated, he said, as “while…
The German bishops’ conference has decided to stick with traditional translations of the Lord’s Prayer. The decision comes after the French bishops decided that beginning early December last year, French Catholics would change the line, “Lead us not into temptation,” to the equivalent of “do not let us enter into temptation.” The common Spanish translation…
True preaching is a ‘slap’, something startling and challenging, rather than comforting and reassuring, Pope Francis said in this morning’s homily at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. Noting that St Paul did not soften his proclamation of the Faith with half-truths, the Pope said that preaching “cannot be lukewarm”. “Preaching always – let me…
Irish pubs will now be allowed to serve alcohol on Good Friday after the Dáil voted today (Thursday) to lift the ban leaving some campaigners wondering how long the law forcing pubs to close on Christmas Day will remain. The ban will be lifted before Good Friday, which this year falls on March 30. Minister…
Katie Ascough has urged students with pro-life views to “stay strong” and “to follow the courage of their convictions” after receiving an award for her actions as UCD students’ union president. Ms Ascough, who was impeached for ordering the reprint of a magazine that contained illegal abortion information, said that although it may be difficult…
Carol Glatz To help parishes, groups, individuals and families better prepare for the World Meeting of Families, Vatican organizers are releasing a multimedia series of catechetical materials in five languages online. The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life announced that starting February 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, it would…
Bishop says Papal gesture seen as a way to reach-out An Irish bishop has said a gesture by Pope Francis to marry a pair of flight attendants on board the Papal plane should cause the Church to consider whether the requirement to get married in a church building needs to be changed. Bishop of…
Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell has rejected claims that parts of a controversial Dáil speech attacking the Church were drawn from an article that appeared on a US-based website last year. Speaking during a debate on abortion, calling for repeal of the Eighth Amendment, Ms O’Connell said: “Holy Catholic Ireland was a monstrous hoax. “When…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Susan Gately