Catholics should consider how to share the Church’s teaching on the family ahead of the World Meeting of Families, Armagh’s Archbishop Eamon Martin has said. Speaking in St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, at the formal launch of preparations for the ninth world meeting, which will take place in Dublin in August 2018, the archbishop said the…

A new book on the legacy of Irish missionaries has been launched in time for Mission Month.  The Legacy of Irish Missionaries Lives On contains numerous views and perspectives by leaders of Church and state, academics, historians, diplomats, media personnel, and international development specialists who have experienced the work of Irish missionaries, while also recording…

The Supreme Court in Lahore, Pakistan, received a written demand, signed by 150 Islamic clerics, for the immediate execution of imprisoned Christian woman Asia Bibi in the days before her latest appeal, it has emerged.  As judges prepared to hear what had been reported to be the woman’s final appeal against the death sentence handed…

Priest murdered in Brazil A murder investigation is underway in Brazil after a priest was discovered apparently stabbed to death on a roadside in Rio de Janeiro state.  Fr Francisco Carlos Barbosa, 37, was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in the district of São Benedito in Nova Iguacu, and was last seen driving in the area.…

Missionaries have called on the Government to make educating girls in the developing world a key priority in Ireland’s foreign aid budget. The call comes in the aftermath of the International Day of the Girl last week. Sr Brigid Tunney, Mission Development Officer for the Loreto Sisters, told The Irish Catholic that targeted funding for…

John Reid The Catholic Grandparents Association of Ireland (CGA) has rejected the suggestion by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, that grandparents are “insulted” by the suggestion they should receive State support for minding grandchildren.  Minister Zappone has announced a subsidy scheme which will be of benefit only to parents who put their children into childcare, but…

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has expressed concern at the inclusion in last weekend’s Citizens’ Assembly meeting of a pro-abortion campaigner who “plans to politicise” the process. As the 99 members of the assembly gathered in Dublin Castle, the PLC revealed that “a very prominent pro-choice campaigner has been tweeting about his membership of the…

Staff reporter Legendary footballer Diego Maradona has revealed that his countryman Pope Francis has brought him back to his faith. Speaking at a recent press conference ahead of United for Peace, a friendly soccer match held in aid of the Scholas Occurrentes Foundation, a charity founded by Pope Francis, Maradona said: “I am with Pope Francis,…

Dromore diocesan changes Bishop John McAreavey has announced a series of new appointments in Dromore. Canon F. Boyle has retired as PP, Saval; Canon G McCrory has retired as PP, Magheradroll; Father Colum Wright has resigned as PP, Aghaderg and Adm., Donaghmore; Fr P.J. Murray, PP, Dromore to be pastor emeritus, Dromore; Fr Brian Brown, PP, Magheralin…

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick has paid tribute to Munster rugby legend Anthony Foley who died in Paris on October 16.  “Anthony Foley was simply that big of a figure in the lives of every sports fan from Limerick, Clare and, of course, the wider Munster and Ireland fan base,” the bishop said in a…