In Brief Religious and ethnic minorities who were victims of atrocities committed by Daesh (so-called Islamic State) need to be supported in rebuilding their lives, the representative of the Holy See to the UN said. Speaking at the conference on ‘Peace, Reconciliation and Justice: The Future of Religious and Ethnic Minorities Victimised by Daesh’ on…
In Brief The visit by Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to Rakhine State failed to stem anger and frustration felt in the strife-torn state or in neighbouring Bangladesh, where more than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to over the past ten weeks. During her one-day visit, Suu Kyi met both Rohingya and Rakhine villagers,…
Vatican Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of All Souls Day by commemorating all those who have died in war, reminding humanity not to forget past lessons and warning that the only fruit yielded by conflict is death. His words of warning and his powerful condemnation of warmongers came during his homily at the Sicily-Rome American War Cemetery some 50 kilometers…
In Brief The people of Puerto Rico still face “an unprecedented level of need” because of hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the island in September, the chairmen of two US bishops’ committees said. Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, and Archbishop Paul Etienne of Anchorage, Alaska called for “meaningful action” through legislative means and emergency…
After publication of his letter to Pope Francis questioning the Pontiff’s teachings, Father Thomas Weinandy has resigned from his position as consultant to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine. The Capuchin Franciscan priest is former executive director of the US bishops’ Secretariat of Doctrine and Canonical Affairs, serving in the post from…
In Brief Pope Francis appeared to side with his predecessor Benedict XVI by saying Christ died “for many”, rather than “for all”. It has been a contentious debate in Catholicism in recent years. “The ‘many’ who will rise for eternal life are to be understood as the ‘many’ for whom the blood of Christ was…
Franciscan fraternity launch prayer campaign for unborn The Seven Joys of Our Lady Secular Franciscan Fraternity (Clonoe/Coalisland) have organised a prayer campaign up to Christmas at least, in view of an expected abortion referendum in the Republic of Ireland. Each member of the fraternity has undertaken to recite a daily Rosary for life and is inviting as many people as possible…
Mission has come ‘full circle’ An influx of new religious communities has been hailed as offering new life to the Irish Church, and bringing Ireland’s missionary heritage back home. Over the past year at least four groups of religious women have set up in Ireland from abroad, the most recent being a community of…
‘Intentional’ Catholic education is the future for Faith schools in Ireland, Greg Daly writes “Religion,” Armagh’s Archbishop Eamon Martin said at last week’s The Irish Catholic Education Conference, is “not an added extra to be fitted in during break time or twilight hours or during registration”. Far from being something extra bolted on to…
Two young buskers from Blessington in Wicklow are the “talk of the town” after getting through to this week’s X-Factor audition. The talented musicians, Sean (17) and Conor (15) Price, impressed judges with their version of ‘All Along the Watchtower’ by Bob Dylan, which was a fusion of the rock classic and modern pop-rap. Their…
Greg Daly