Fear of clericalism must not be a reason for any reticence in promoting vocations to the diocesan priesthood, writes Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan In the synodal conversations which were held around the country in preparation for the Synod on Synodality in the Autumn of 2024, no mention was recorded of the need to promote vocations to…

The Pope’s Exorcist is a new movie that stars Russell Crowe who plays the role of Fr Gabriele Amorth who was an exorcist for the Vatican and the Diocese of Rome until his death in 2016. The film puts the spotlight on the occult, how we view the existence of evil and the person of…

On Ash Wednesday I listened to a thoughtful homily about how we should approach Lent, in a personal capacity. The priest emphasised that we didn’t have to quit something for Lent – we could also embrace something, by way of good works, for example, instead.  We could devise a schedule for ourselves on what we…

For many people, the Covid-19 lockdowns and the seemingly never-ending restrictions which were imposed on the public, have faded into memory. The Government, seemingly eager to avoid examining any mistakes made, have been foot-dragging on the establishment of an inquiry into its pandemic response, even though the period saw measures enforced which were unprecedented in…

Is there a deeper existential crisis which social media is making worse, asks David Quinn Ireland is supposed to be the most liberated it has ever been, and yet at the same time we seem to witnessing a surge in mental health problems among young people, especially adolescent girls, and not just in Ireland, but…

Three leaders of NATO member states – and, as it happens, three Roman Catholic laity deeply involved in politics – all issued stirring defences of Ukraine this week, as the one-year anniversary of its war with Russia approached. US President Joe Biden delivered a forceful speech in Warsaw February 21 in which he vowed that…

In yet another sign of Pope Francis’s consistent outreach to Islam, the Vatican announced February 23 that it had established full diplomatic relations with Oman, further extending the Holy See’s relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds. In a joint statement, both sides said the move was born of a desire to promote “mutual understanding…

This Lent, I have taken on a project that is either incredibly brave or incredibly foolhardy. This undertaking of mine is also way above my pay grade, one of those proposals which seemed a good idea when it was a long way off, but now seems a lot less so. I have agreed to preach…

As we mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the issue of immigration has spilled over onto the streets of our country, amid acrimonious protests and counter-protests. Yet most Irish media outlets still refuse to discuss the issue in a balanced and reasonable way. Ireland has a remarkable and positive story to tell…

It’s over a year now since the brutal war in Ukraine commenced, and it’s striking what a unifying effect this has had on Europe – and on domestic politics. Left and right, in the main, are in agreement about supporting Ukraine’s as a sovereign nation; the ubiquity of Ukrainian flags from Cork to Copenhagen attests…