The Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo of the Latins has described the situation for his people in the Syrian city of Aleppo as “critical” as fierce fighting for its control goes on. Stuck in the Lebanese capital Beirut as the latest stage in the Syrian conflict forces road closures, Msgr Georges Abou Khazen said that through…
Leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have heeded the urgings of the country’s Catholic bishops and have begun to lay the groundwork for a national dialogue to avoid violence in the run-up to national elections. Amid tensions caused by the strong suspicion that current President Joseph Kabila will attempt to maintain his grip…
Call for Islamic leaders to speak up for peace The president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences has urged Muslim leaders who insist their faith is one of peace to make their voices heard over those of hatred and violence who claim to be inspired by the Koran. Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo said that while the vast majority of the world’s Muslims…
The most high profile cleric imprisoned in the United States arising from investigations of sexual abuse of children has been freed after his conviction was ruled unsafe. Msgr William Lynn of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was not implicated in the actual abuse of children. However, as a supervisory priest for the archdiocese in his role…
Msgr Donald Sakano greets sheep in the cemetery at the Basilica of St Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City. The parish is using the three grazing sheep to cut the graveyard’s grass this summer. Photo: CNS
Casey Schmauder Flyers are hung about the city proclaiming not Beyonce and Rihanna concerts, but “Mary Inflames the Embers…Are You Ready?” This is the title of the 16th Catholic Young Adults’ Conference which will take place August 20-21 in Dublin’s All Hallows College for ages 18 to 40. The event typically draws more than 200 people.…
Staff reporter US Olympic diver Steele Johnson scooped a silver medal at the Games this week. It was the first Olympic outing for the 20-year-old athlete. But, while he expressed obvious delight at winning a medal for his country, Mr Johnson was in no doubt that Olympic glory fades in comparison with his faith. He told…
A senior figure in the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has said that current high-profile tensions about the national seminary have become a stumbling block for ordinary Catholics. Anonymous allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, have led to Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin withdrawing his seminarians from Maynooth to send them to…
The Irish College in Rome is to have its numbers significantly boosted with the announcement that 15 seminarians from Saint John Vianney College (SJV) Seminary in Minnesota are to transfer to Rome for the completion of their formation studies. The Board of Trustees of the Irish College, chaired by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, approved…
Spiritan missionaries in Brazil have described the Rio Olympics as a positive step for the country despite recent media coverage of protests there. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week as the 2016 Games were underway, Fr Seán Doyle, who has ministered in Brazil for 43 years, acknowledged that there had been some local opposition…
Paul Keenan
Courtney McGrail
Greg Daly