The current model of seminary formation is neither as old or as monolithic as is often believed, writes Prof. Salvador Ryan   It has often been said that the seminary model of priestly formation, which was first introduced by order of the Council of Trent in the 16th Century, is a monolithic and outdated system…

Letter from Rome   Pope Francis named thirteen new cardinals on Sunday past, including 10 eligible to vote for the next pope. Arguably, nothing any Pope ever does is more consequential than appointing cardinals. Not only do they immediately become the most influential leaders in the Church, but someday they’ll also elect a new Pope…

While many are celebrating the ordination of the first bishop in China since a deal was struck between the Vatican and the Chinese government on bishop appointments last year, some experts have said the event is indicative of neither the terms of the agreement or its success, since the bishop ordained had been selected before…

Notebook   The 10 am weekday Mass in Newcestown on the August Bank Holiday ended at 11.30 am. What’s more, no one bolted for the door during the last hymn. Instead, amazingly, they stood and sang together. And most stayed on afterwards to talk to their neighbours. It was a Bank Holiday after all. No…

Since I dwell, in a sense, in both England and Ireland – now here, now there – I am sometimes held to account in both countries for what the other is doing. Most recently, in Ireland, I have been charged with allegations that the British (or the English) have become nastily anti-Irish, with the rise…

Now there’s a way to quantify your victimhood, writes David Quinn   Have you ever calculated your intersectionality score? Do you even know what intersectionality is? The answer to both questions is almost certainly ‘no’, but actually, if you want to understand political correctness and its demands it pays to be familiar with the concept.…

Cardinal Pell is bound to be found innocent in a Church trial, writes Greg Daly It’s long been a point made by the Church’s more measured defenders that canon law allows the Church to take disciplinary action against its members when the State – for whatever reason – cannot act. Sometimes, as in the case…

Chai Brady discusses Hong Kong’s mass protests and fears of military intervention   Large-scale protests have caused massive disruption in Hong Kong with the unpredictable situation continuing to draw the gaze of international communities. Speculation that an imminent military intervention from Beijing continues to grow. Protestors have used several forms of civil disobedience to highlight…

A workshop on priestly vocation was an eye-opening experience, writes Bishop Phonsie Cullinan   At the Youth 2000 Summer Retreat in Clongowes Wood College this month 39 young people gathered for a lunchtime conversation workshop on vocations to the diocesan priesthood.  The gathering was initiated by the Vocations Council of the Bishops’ Conference which I…