Attacks on a Carlow Catholic school by politicians, journalists and commentators were “entirely unfair” based on “fake news” and caused teachers “enormous stress” The Irish Catholic has been told. The Press Ombudsman found this week that a report about alleged ‘body shaming’ in Presentation College Carlow by a local newspaper had been entirely false. Local…
The head of the independent watchdog ensuring compliance with child safeguarding procedures has warned that sharp pandemic-related funding cuts make its work “unsustainable”. Teresa Devlin, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church told The Irish Catholic this week that cuts of 40% in Church funding were stretching the body to…
A Dublin parish has been forced to take down an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Pride flag after an order from the archbishop of Dublin. The flag was raised at Ballyfermot Assumption parish after a decision by the parish pastoral council. The aim was to make LGBTQ people feel welcome, and to send a…
Marian Pilgrimages is expecting “hundreds” of Irish pilgrims to return to Medjugorje before the end of the year, as they prepare to resume their charter into Mostar August 25. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Managing Director of Marian Pilgrimages Niall Glynn said that while they only have “very, very small” groups heading to Medjugorje for…
The position of EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion risks becoming “all talk and no substance” without the requisite funding and staffing, a spokesperson for a charity for persecuted Christians said. The statement came after a Brussels based EU bishops’ conference criticised the envoy’s “limited mandate and resources”, but welcomed the appointment of a…
Senator Rónán Mullen has said there should be an alternative to “State-run apparatus which insists that everybody kowtow to abortion” when it comes to maternity care in Ireland. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Senator Mullen said it’s a time when you would hope for “healthcare leaders to come forward from within the Catholic ranks to…
Co. Fermanagh priest Fr Joe McVeigh said now is the right time to be discussing a united Ireland, as recent disagreements over devolution have shown Northern Ireland to be “a failed state”. He also called on the DUP and Sinn Féin to work together for “the sake of the people”, as disagreements over abortion and…
French statesman Robert Schuman, a founder of the European Union, has been declared “venerable” by Pope Francis. Following a meeting last weekend with Cardinal Marcello Semararo, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis advanced the cause for sainthood of Mr Schuman and six others. Robert Schuman was born in Luxembourg…
The Church cannot be driven by responses to “secular issues” as this allows its agenda to be set by others and not Christ. Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry said in a homily at St Eugene’s Cathedral on Sunday that debates about human rights may be interesting subjects, but “Jesus calls us to cross over and…
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference have announced the appointment of Dr Nicola Brady as chair of the synodal steering committee, which will help lead the way towards Ireland’s national synod. The bishops said they decided to establish the synodal steering committee and a synodal task group to help move forward the synodal pathway process for Ireland…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones