Catholic bishops from the United States and Mexico have spoken forcefully against the climate of fear for migrants and others which has arisen in America since the inauguration of President Donald Trump. In separate gatherings, prelates made statements to denounce “the exclusion and marginalisation” which threaten to divide families and punish the most vulnerable. In…
Category: News
Pressure mounts on RTÉ over ‘haunted bread’ insult
Pressure is mounting on RTÉ this week after it was revealed that over 2,000 complaint letters have been sent in response to the ‘haunted bread’ incident on The Late Late Show. Fr Gerard Ahern of Abbeyleix, who has led the growing letter campaign to RTÉ since a guest on the flagship programme went unchallenged when…
Ambassadors hear Russian Orthodox concerns
The condition of a Christian community in any given nation of the Middle East is “an indicator of security and stability” a leading Russian prelate has told ambassadors drawn from the Arab world. In an address to a gathering of 11 diplomats in Moscow, Metropolitan Hilarion chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church…
Ray D’Arcy tops list of complaints to RTÉ
An analysis of complaints lodged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the last six years has revealed that broadcaster Ray D’Arcy has garnered more complaints than any other radio personality. Released by The Sunday Times, the breakdown in figures for BAI complaints reveals that, in just three years with RTÉ Radio, D’Arcy was…
Vatican Roundup
Pope considering trip to famine-struck South Sudan Pope Francis has revealed he is considering the possibility of an official trip to South Sudan. Days after he made a plea for the international community to respond to “a severe food crisis, which has hit the Horn of Africa region [and] condemns to death by starvation millions…
Parents’ campaign offers Roscrea possible lifeline
The closure of Cistercian College Roscrea has been stalled as a result of a passionate campaign by parents and past pupils. Following the revelation that the Cistercian order was to close the boarding school due to financial pressures, a ‘Save CCR’ group has formed with the intention of sourcing funding for the school’s future. Speaking…
Trócaire targets “unprecedented” humanitarian need
The current scale of humanitarian need is “unprecedented” warned Trócaire, as it launched Ireland’s largest annual fundraising campaign this week. The bishops’ overseas aid agency is targeting humanitarian relief for up to one million people with its Lenten campaign, which will see schools, communities and parishes coming together over the next six weeks to pledge…
Celebrating 50 years of learning
Papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown (centre) flanked by students Kieran Murray and Caoimhe Nugent, along with local clergy, at a Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone.
News in Brief
Our Lady of Fatima statue tours Ireland A centennial pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima is making a tour of Ireland during the month of March. The statue of one of six commissioned by the Alliance of the Holy Family Int’l (AHFI) and the Human Life International – Austria, and blessed by Pope Francis…
Direct provision ‘backlogs’ not addressed
The introduction of a single procedure application for asylum seekers has failed to address the “outstanding backlogs” in the system according to the Jesuits Refugee Service (JRS). Eugene Quinn, National Director of JRS Ireland, said that while the introduction of a new International Protection Procedure, which aims to streamline the asylum process and produce more speedy…


Paul Keenan

Courtney McGrail

Mags Gargan
