Alan McGuckian SJ was installed as the new bishop of Down and Connor diocese in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast, on April 14. The former bishop of Raphoe was welcomed to the North’s most populous diocese by a full house at the cathedral. Bishop McGuckian took the opportunity to call on the North’s assembly to be…
Category: Irish News
Donegal priest appointed to Papal Basilica
Donegal priest Msgr Eamonn McLaughlin has been appointed as Canon for the Chapter of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major by Pope Francis. Pope Francis often visits the Basilica, coming to venerate the icon Salus Populi Romani before and after trips away from the Vatican. This new announcement comes under a month since the…
Mattie McGrath Accuses Government of Muzzling Dissent on EU Migration Pact
Deputy Mattie McGrath, leader of the Dáil’s Rural Independent Group, has criticized the government for deliberately blocking a Dáil debate on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, labeling the action as a “scandalous attempt to silence debate” on a critical issue. “It is a scandal that the government, with the facilitated support of ‘so-called’ independent TDs, have…
Irish MEPs Vote For Abortion to Be ‘Human Right’
Irish MEPS’ who this week voted to enshrine Abortion as a ‘right’ in the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights have been slammed and described as ‘going down a path of relentless disregard for preborn human life’. Patrick Murphy, who is Aontu’s candidate for Ireland South said, “The spectre of 12 out of 13 Irish MEP’s…
Priest will continue blessing planes despite airport ban
Exclusive The chaplain of Dublin Airport has insisted he will continue the Christmas tradition of blessing planes whether that be from the altar or 35,000 feet in the air, following the announcement it is to be banned. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) confirmed to The Irish Catholic that due to “changes in security protocols”, the…
Catholic schools staunch on religious cert requirements as INTO put on pressure
Catholic primary schools will continue to follow their own faith-based programmes which require teachers to have a religious education certificate despite pressure to remove the requirement, according to the head of the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP). This comes as the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) announced after their annual congress the aim to engage with…
Priests warn against watching multiple Masses online
There is a risk Mass becomes “entertainment” rather than a source of nourishment, particularly when several services are watched a day, priests have warned. Watching Mass on RTÉ and on webcam was a great service during Covid and continues to be for the sick and elderly, but it “was never meant to be a substitute…
New Vatican document hailed for clear approach against assisted suicide
Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran and theologian Dr John Murray have both praised the Vatican’s document on human dignity published on Monday, Dignitas Infinata, which outlines the Church’s response to some of the societal issues which are calling the concept of human dignity into question – particularly the issue of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Speaking…
Antisemitism concerns lead to call for activism to be left outside classrooms
Schools in Ireland must be “a safe space for children of all religions” but this is not the case if students are given a “one-sided narrative” about the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East, the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRS) has said. The statement comes following antisemitism concerns of Jewish parents, who allege their…
Irish dancer Flatley requested to pray Rosary with ex-wife in her final hours
Renowned Irish dancer Michael Flatley has revealed how he personally requested to see his ex-wife Lisa Murphy in hospital to be able to pray by her side and open up to her in her final hours. Recalling the poignant encounter, he said he that he spent time on his own with Ms Murphy reciting the…