Inés san Martín Fidel Castro, Cuba’s communist leader who died on November 25 at the age of 90, was by far the most dominant figure in Cuba’s one-party state which he ruled with an iron fist for almost five decades before handing over the powers to his brother Raúl in 2008. A hero to the left across the…

RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan was on hand to encourage children everywhere to have a ‘Mad Hair Day’ this December 16 for a good cause. A fundraising initiative of the Society of Missionary Children, the event calls for children to adopt zany hairstyles as they collect money for poverty stricken children across the world. This year…

A major study has found the Catholic Church in the US to be one of the most culturally diverse institutions in that country. The three-year study, commissioned by the US bishops’ conference and undertaken by the Centre for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, was presented to the prelates during their plenary meeting…

The Pope’s extension of the special permission for priests to grant absolution to those who have procured an abortion has been welcomed as an “important step” by a prominent canon laywer. Reacting to the Pope’s announcement in his latest Apostolic letter of an indefinite extension of a faculty granted to priests during the Year of…

The Christian governor of Jakarta, Indonesia, is to face trial for alleged blasphemy against Islam.  Basuki Purnama Tjahaja, often referred to a ‘Ahok’, fell foul of hardline Muslims in September when, during a political rally, he reportedly quoted the Koran’s 51st Surah which warns followers against voting for a leader of a different faith and…

Staff Reporter Archbishop Eamon Martin has expressed his hope that the impact of Year of Mercy will continue to be felt by all. In his homily at St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh during events to celebrate the conclusion of the year, the Primate of All Ireland said: “I pray that the graces of this special year…

Prelates enter war of words over Amoris Laetitia guidelines A war of words between the head of the Vatican’s congregation for the family and America’s Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia has erupted over the Amoris Laetitia encyclical. Following the archbishop’s issuing of guidelines in July for his archdiocese re-emphasising Church teaching that divorced-and-remarried Catholics cannot…

Education proposals ‘attack’ faith schools A new submission to the Department of Education from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) attacks the rights and ethos of faith schools, the Iona Institute has claimed. The institute has especially challenged the commission’s recommendation that faith schools lose their right to accommodate children of their religious…

Pope Francis closes the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica to mark the closing of the jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican November 20. Photo: CNS

Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe takes the opportunity to snap proceedings at Mount St Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, to mark the close of the Jubilee Year of Mercy last Sunday, November 20. Photo: Sean Curtin True Media.