Salesian Fr Thomas Uzhunnalil, who was released from 18-month’s captivity in strife-torn Yemen last September, was awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice. The Harmony Foundation, a volunteer group based in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, honoured the Catholic priest under the theme “compassion without borders”. Suspected Islamic terrorists kidnapped Fr Uzhunnalil, a missionary in Yemen, last…
Several carol singers including priests have been arrested in India after a man claimed they were trying to convert him. The following day Hindu activists allegedly assaulted eight priests and set fire to their vehicle outside an Indian police station as the clergy tried to help the 30 seminarians and two priests that were arrested,…
A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who travelled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity. Bishop Joseph Bagobiri of Kafanchan, retired Archbishop Alaba Job of Ibadan and retired Bishop Julius Adelakun of Oyo called on the Nigerian government to act on behalf of Nigerian nationals…
Letter from Rome Italy deals Church third big political loss, this time on ‘right-to-die’, writes John L. Allen Jr. Just days before the 11th anniversary of the death of an Italian man whose battle to be allowed to die stimulated wide debate in the country over euthanasia, the Italian senate approved a ‘living wills’ measure…
The Pope’s failure to replace the expert members of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors speaks of a worrying lack of urgency around the issue, campaigner Marie Collins has said. Mrs Collins noted her “surprise” at how the commission’s Fr Hans Zollner had revealed on Twitter that the commission’s new term would not…
A former member of the Irish Defence Forces who now works as a solicitor was ordained to the permanent diaconate on Sunday. The new deacon, Martin Reidy, became the first permanent deacon to be ordained in the Church of the Risen Christ, Kiltoom, Co. Athlone. A large congregation gathered including his wife and two children.…
In anticipation of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) next year, a group of students in Kildare created some festive Christmas decorations for their Church tree. Students working towards their Pope John Paul II Award from St Mary’s College (Naas) and Newbridge College helped the Kill Parish Liturgy Group to replace baubles on the Church…
Unrestricted access to abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is likely to become law if a referendum next year sees the removal of Ireland’s constitutional protections for the unborn, The Irish Catholic understands. Following the recommendation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution that article 40.3.3 of Bunreacht…
The national housing and homeless charity, Peter McVerry Trust, has announced that it will deliver emergency accommodation for 100 single people as well as 24 families in Dublin before Christmas. Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said the charity was doing everything it could to provide high quality emergency shelter to those in need. “Our…
The nativity scene in St Peter’s Square is not getting rave reviews: the backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need – hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned – don’t exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright. Franciscan Fr John Puodziunas said he didn’t like it at first.…
Chai Brady
John L. Allen Jr.
Greg Daly