Courtney McGrailA centennial pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima, one of six blessed by Pope Francis, being carried along the Falls Road, Belfast on Sunday led by Sarah, Grace and Gerard dressed as the three children of Fatima, as part of a public procession from St Peter’s Cathedral to St Paul’s Belfast. Photo: Gerard Smyth
Category: News
Bishop Eamon Casey – a leader who helped millions
Paul Keenan
A man “full of energy, full of life [and] of dynamism” has been lost in the passing of Bishop Eamonn Casey, who died on March 13 at the age of 89. This was the assessment offered by long-time friend Fr Dermod McCarthy for one of Ireland’s most high-profile prelates who would be recalled in his…
Top European court rules against religious symbols in the workplace
Europe’s top court has ruled that employers can bar workers from wearing religious symbols in the workplace. The judgement handed down by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) states that internal company rules can be shaped so as to require ‘neutral dress’ on the part of employees. The case was centred on the experiences of…
Schools urged to be vigilant amid reports of targeting by ‘cult’
Greg Daly
Catholic schools have been urged to be vigilant when approached by groups offering to speak to students, following claims that a group that has been described as a ‘cult’ has targeted Cork schools. “It’s very important that there is Garda vetting, and that people are sure that whoever is talking is going to respect and…
Church critical of Philippines vote to re-introduce capital punishment
The Catholic Church in the Philippines has lamented the passage of a vote to reintroduce the death penalty. On March 7, legislators voted 217 to 54 to bring back capital punishment, a victory for hard-line President Rodrigo Duterte. The vote means the legislation moves to the nation’s Senate for final approval, though this is almost…
Offering a ‘céad míle fáilte’
Charlie, Malachi, Conor and Orlaith with their class teacher Mrs Quinn from P5 in St Colmans’Primary School in Annaclone, Co. Down pictured during a celebration to welcome representatives from seven countries to the school as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
Caritas ‘SOS’ for South Sudan
A Caritas director in one Catholic diocese in South Sudan has warned that “the humanitarian situation…is getting to a catastrophic stage”. Writing after the official announcement of famine in the country, William Okot de Toby, who oversees the work of the Church’s development agency in the Diocese of Torit in the far south-east, said: “Hunger…
Recovery of Michael Bublé’s son hailed as a ‘miracle from God’
The success of singer Michael Bublé’s young son’s battle against cancer has been described by his family as a “miracle from God”. The singing sensation and his Argentinian wife Luisana Lopilato, were devastated when three-year-old Noah was diagnosed with liver cancer following a biopsy at a clinic in Buenos Aires last year. Noah began chemotherapy…
Egyptian Church praises Muslim efforts for displaced Christians
The Church in Egypt has lauded the efforts of Muslims to assist Christians fleeing Sinai. Spokesman Fr Rafiq Greiche said: “Ordinary Muslims are kind and try to help however they can. They’re often first on the scene, rescuing the injured.” Fr Greiche spoke as so-called Islamic State (ISIS), which is behind the drive to oust…
No political will to tackle asylum process – bishop
Mags Gargan
“Here are people who are undocumented in Ireland and they are not being treated well” The Bishop of Elphin has called on the Government to exercise the same energy to help the plight of asylum seekers in Ireland as undocumented Irish abroad. Bishop Kevin Doran told The Irish Catholic he would like to see “a…