Rock and Roll superstar Bruce Springsteen has spoken candidly of how his faith upbringing in a staunchly Catholic family has shaped his life and work. Speaking during an interview with RTÉ’s Late Late Show, the songwriter responsible for such hits as Born in the USA, Hungry Heart and Thunder Road admitted that religion was “a…

The Vatican is reportedly preparing to hear the trial of a prelate implicated in sexual abuse on the Pacific island of Guam. Following investigations into the conduct of Archbishop Anthony Apuron of the island’s sole Diocese of Agana, the Apostolic Administrator appointed by Pope Francis to oversee the diocese, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, has…

A Capuchin friar famed for his work with Dublin’s homeless and vulnerable has warned that poverty levels in the capital are comparable to those of 1916.   Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, Br Kevin Crowley described the situation for the poor in Dublin as“a disaster”.   “In 1916 we had poverty,” he said,…

An Australian commission examining cases of clerical child sex abuse has been urged to discount oral testimony from Cardinal George Pell, who is linked to the case of abuser priest Fr Peter Searson in the 1980s. In a submission to the Royal Commission, lawyers Gail Furness and Stephen Free insist that the claim of then…

Catholics should remember their duty to visit prisoners, Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin has said.   Speaking to The Irish Catholic following the Jubilee for Prisoners, during which Pope Francis celebrated Mass in St Peter’s Basilica with over 1,000 prisoners from 12 countries, while he himself had celebrated Mass in Portlaoise and Midlands…

Leader of the Chaldean Christian community in Iraq, Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, has visited six newly liberated Christian towns of the Nineveh Plain. During the visit to the towns of Bartella, Karmles, Qaraqosh, Teskof, Baqofa and Btnaya, the Patriarch met with and thanked soldiers “who restored the crosses on top of the churches”. In…

Irish Columban Fr Shay Cullen has used the occasion of his receiving the Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award to call on Ireland to lead by example on human rights.   Addressing the audience at the awards ceremony in Killarney, Co. Kerry last weekend, Fr Cullen said Ireland’s commitment to resettle 4,000 refugees fleeing conflict is “an…

Pope hosts unique Mass for prisoners Pope Francis celebrated a special Mass for prisoners in the presence of 1,000 inmates on November 6. Organissed as part of the Vatican’s Year of Mercy celebrations, the Mass at St Peter’s Basilica brought prisoners together from 12 countries along with their families as well as prison chaplains. Addressing…

The Association of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland (AMRI) is inviting all returned missionaries to participate in a seminar to evaluate the skills and tools acquired by them in their years of mission work.   The event aims to offer space for missionaries to dialogue, exchange ideas and discuss challenges they now face on mission…

A woman holds up a cross as people pray along the US-Mexico border fence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, while taking part in a Mass in support of migrants who died trying to cross illegally into the US. The border Mass was sponsored by dioceses of El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez.…