Ireland is delivering 100 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to help refugees from South Sudan who are fleeing their homes. This includes tarpaulins, blankets, cooking sets and mosquito nets which are being airlifted to refugee camps in Uganda. South Sudan has been embroiled in a civil conflict since December 2013 with refugees escaping to neighbouring countries.…
National and international policies leave migrant children at the mercy of traffickers and sexual predators a Vatican official told the UN. Policies that involve criminalising and detaining child migrants “are an insult to human dignity” and are “the dramatic evidence of existing inequalities and failing systems,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to UN agencies…
There has been a decline in Irish abortion numbers for the 15th consecutive year. According to the official statistics released by the British Department of Health, 3,265 women travelled from Ireland to England to have an abortion. This number stems from a continual drop since 2001 where the number of Irish abortions was 6,673. “Reasons…
Calls for a peace treaty between North and South Korea were made last week as the countries are still technically at war. A symposium organised by South Korean bishops saw several speakers calling for a new peace agreement to replace a 64-year-old truce. Hak-jae Kim, a researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies…
Kieran Stafford, newly elected National President of the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP), has promised to focus on alleviating the financial and emotional hurdles of struggling local communities. Succeeding Geoff Meagher who held the position for the past five years, Stafford has reconfirmed that the Vincentian ethos will continue to be “committed to…
A large majority of bishops in the Scottish Episcopal Church have voted to allow same-sex marriage. The vote removed the condition that marriage is between a man and a women, amending canon law last week. Clergy are allowed to choose to officiate at gay marriages, meaning that they would not have to act against their…
Remembering those who have died or have suffered injury from accidents on Irish farms will be the focus an ecumenical remembrance service to be held in Co. Laois. Around 120 families have contacted the directors of Embrace Farm, a bereavement support group, for their loved one to be remembered this year. This annual event, which…
Following its own findings of severe corruption in government, the South African Council of Churches called for the dissolving of parliament and new general elections. The government “has lost its moral legitimacy” and new polls are needed, the South African Council of Churches said in a statement. The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is a…
Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown has urged the North’s newly elected MPs to serve all those in Northern Ireland, calling them to focus their efforts on those most in need. “The politicians, whatever their party, have been elected to look after the people, especially the weakest, and it doesn’t matter what party they come from: that…
Civilians in Myanmar (Burma) are seeking shelter in churches following an ultimatum made by the country’s army. The military dropped letters warning residents to leave an area called Tanai, by June 15, or else they would be considered to have links with a rebel army it has been reported. Church social workers have said that…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly