The Church in Ireland should follow the lead of bishops elsewhere and issue guidelines to clarify if and when divorced and civilly-remarried Catholics here can receive Holy Communion, a prominent theologian has said. It comes after Pope Francis wrote to bishops in Argentina commending them on guidelines that permit some civilly-remarried Catholics to receive Holy…

Cardinal clarifies homily on ‘conquest’ of Europe Austria’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has issued a statement clarifying a homily interpreted on social media as predicting an Islamic conquest of Europe. During celebrations in Vienna on September 11 to mark the feast day of the victory of Christians over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, the prelate asked if…

All-Ireland Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin prays at the Wailing Wall during a pilgrimage by 175 Irish people to the Holy Land. Photo: Pádraig Ó Flannabhra

Newspapers in Turkey have claimed that the exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen is “a Trojan horse of the Vatican” in a conspiracy to spread Christianity across the region. Already demonised in the country as the main figure behind the failed July coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the US-based cleric has now become the subject…

The Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP), the body representing all stakeholders in Catholic education in Ireland has announced two major new appointments. Fr Richard Byrne OCarm will become the body’s chairperson, while Mr Ferdia Kelly assumes to the role of chief executive. Fr Byrne is currently Provincial of the Irish Province of Carmelites. He has a…

Children process in the Knock Basilica, Co. Mayo, on September 11, during the annual Catholic Grandparents Association pilgrimage. Photo: James Wright Photography. 

A group working for school choice in Ireland has welcomed British Prime Minister Theresa May’s move to boost Catholic schools in Britain by eliminating the religion-based admissions cap and permitting the building of more Catholic schools. Barrister Patrick Treacy of Faith in Our Schools said Mrs May’s identifying of Catholic schools as a key part…

The relic of the saint who was martyred to save the life of another prisoner at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland will be in Ireland for the first time in October.  The relic of St Maximilian Kolbe will be present at the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fairview, Dublin on October…

Columnist and writer John Waters will speak in Cork next month on the topic, ‘The End of Debate in Ireland’. The event is being organised by The Iona Institute.  Mr Waters will discuss how in Ireland today, “debate on many of the most important issues has been brought to a virtual halt. Token gestures are…