Last weekend saw the welcome return of Sunday Morning Live on BBC One. It’s more magazine style than its alter ego The Big Questions but still features some weighty debates on topical religious, social or ethical issues. First up was timely discussion on youth mental health, especially in the context of exam stress and social…
People of all age groups are susceptible to loneliness, and initiatives must be implemented to alleviate this problem in Ireland, a social justice organisation has said. The Loneliness Task Force, which was established in collaboration with the CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan, to coordinate a response to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, said…
An Australian acting archbishop has said the Church will not adhere to new laws that compel priests to break the Seal of Confession. The laws are expected to come into effect in South Australia in October and will make it legally mandatory for clergy to report child abuse if they are told about it in…
The Notebook June is Jubilee month for many priests. In communities all over Ireland, people in sacred ministry are being honoured this month, especially for Silver, Ruby, Golden and Diamond jubilees (25, 40, 50 and 60 years of priesthood). I went to one such celebration earlier in June. A special once-off Mass had been…
Matthew Carlson A prominent pro-life group has applauded the actions of Offaly TD Carol Nolan after she retired from Sinn Féin because the group voted to deny its members the right to vote with their conscience on abortion without receiving discipline. At Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis in Belfast last weekend, the party voted to…
Elise Harris In a new interview with Reuters, Pope Francis backed the U.S. bishops’ opposition to the separation of migrant children from their parents at the Mexican border, calling the move “immoral” and “contrary to Catholic values”. “I am on the side of the bishops’ conference”, the Pope said, referring to statements made by…
A prominent American celebrity has advised that young people recognise the existence of a loving God and has encouraged them to pray often as it’s good for your ‘soul’. Actor Chris Pratt, best known for roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, spoke about the power of Faith after receiving the Generation Award…
Pope Francis has appointed leading educationalist and Cork priest Fr Tom Deenihan as the new Bishop of Meath. The announcement was made in a Vatican communique this morning (June 18). He will succeed Bishop Michael Smith who recently turned 78 and was Ireland’s longest-serving bishop having been appointed to the episcopal bench by St John…
Argentina’s bishops expressed disappointment with the approval of an initiative that moves the South American country closer to legalising abortion. This comes as the country’s bishops have pledged to review their social ministries to better attend to youth and women. The country’s lower house of congress voted 129-123 to approve the initiative, which decriminalises abortion…
Elise Harris In his message for this year’s World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis challenged Catholics on their attitude toward the impoverished, asking whether they really listen to and love the needy, or engage in charity only to please themselves. “The condition of poverty cannot be expressed in a word but becomes a…
Brendan O’Regan
Colm Fitzpatrick