Category: News

News in Brief

Government challenged to act on rural GP crisis Independent TD Mattie McGrath has challenged the Government for inaction which he said is resulting in the slow death of rural GP practice. Deputy McGrath has asked Health Minister Simon Harris to clarify the steps he’s taking to address the ongoing crisis in declining numbers of rural…

Killarney schools to hold ‘Hugh O’Flaherty Day’

Staff reporter All the schools in Killarney will nominate a specific ‘Hugh O’Flaherty Day’ this September, when they will include an activity based on the Kerryman’s life in their daily schedule. Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty, who worked in Rome during the Second World War, is thought to have been responsible for saving as many as 6,500…

National church collection called for East African famine

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for special collections at all Masses next  weekend (July 22-23) to fund life-saving aid for people affected by the devastating hunger crisis in east-Africa. The money raised will be donated to Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Irish Church, which is delivering emergency food, water and health…

Franciscans elect new provincial

Fr Aidan McGarth OFM has been chosen as the new provincial of the Irish Province of Franciscan friars after an election at Franciscan College, Gormanston in Co. Meath. Up to his election, Fr McGarth was General Secretary of the Franciscan Order in the General Curia in Rome. A native of Banbridge, Co. Down, he was…

US execution of mentally ill man criticised by bishops

US Bishops have criticised the execution of a man who was said to be mentally ill. William Morva was executed in Virginia, after being convicted of killing a hospital security guard and a sheriff’s deputy after escaping from custody several years ago. He was killed by lethal injection last week, causing the Virginia Catholic Conference…

US and European bishops call for end to nuclear arsenals

European and American bishops have called for all nations to develop a plan to eliminate nuclear weapons from their military arsenals. A joint declaration from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions called upon the US and European nations to work with other nations to “map out…