Bishop says Papal gesture seen as a way to reach-out An Irish bishop has said a gesture by Pope Francis to marry a pair of flight attendants on board the Papal plane should cause the Church to consider whether the requirement to get married in a church building needs to be changed. Bishop of…
Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell has rejected claims that parts of a controversial Dáil speech attacking the Church were drawn from an article that appeared on a US-based website last year. Speaking during a debate on abortion, calling for repeal of the Eighth Amendment, Ms O’Connell said: “Holy Catholic Ireland was a monstrous hoax. “When…
A small-town Australian priest could soon become a Hollywood hit now film rights to his new book have been bought by US film producers. Born in Malta in 1981, Fr Rob Galea is a curate in St Killian’s Parish, Bendigo, Victoria, but is known throughout Australia where he has appeared on X-Factor, released six albums,…
Women facing crisis pregnancies need compassion, but this does not give anyone the right to end another’s life, Fr Brian D’Arcy has said. Speaking on RTÉ’s Clare Byrne Show on Monday, Fr D’Arcy said: “I understand that we lose life, life doesn’t last forever, that mothers in difficulties have to make absolute choices, and I’ve…
Pope Francis apologised to victims of clergy sex abuse, saying he unknowingly wounded them by the way he defended a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse by his mentor. Speaking with journalists on his flight to Rome from Lima, Peru, the Pope said he only realised later that his words erroneously implied that victims’…
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered across the US on Friday for the annual March for Life, with this year’s theme being ‘Love Saves Lives’. The march marks the US Supreme courts decision in 1973 to legalise abortion. President Donald Trump made a very public show of support for the campaign with his address to…
A government move that could see publicly-funded Catholic counselling agencies closing has been described as “an attack on the independence of civil society”. Currently the Department of Children and Youth Affairs pays almost €1.6 million per year to Accord, the marriage and relationship counselling service run by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, via Tusla –…
Fishermen held a fluvial procession in the southern Philippine city of General Santos in Mindanao to honour the Santo Nino, or the Child Jesus. At least 200 fishing vessels of all sizes took part in the procession, an annual event that started 40 years ago to show thanks to the Lord for the bounty people get…
Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan had a great interest in monasteries and loved to listen to monks chanting Vespers, it was said during her funeral homily. Fr Liam McNamara said that he first met the late musician in 1989 when she was playing a keyboard and singing with the choir of the Church of St Ailbe.…
I think, if I were a full-time resident in Ireland these days, I would now be inclined to vote for Fianna Fail. I’m impressed by the way in which party members are emphasising the role of conscience in the debate over repealing the Eighth Amendment. By contrast, it seems deplorable that Fine Gael was so coercive…
Susan Gately
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Mary Kenny