Pope Francis has denounced the practice of administering prenatal tests to determine birth defects that often lead to abortions, comparing it to the Nazi-era eugenics programme that determined what lives were worth keeping or eliminating. Children are God’s greatest gift and should be welcomed “as they come, as God sends them, as God allows, even…
Matthew Carlson Mexico’s World Cup team experienced a miracle of sorts on Sunday with a stunning victory over Germany, some say because of one faithful grandmother. A girl named Paola of El Paso, Texas posted a video via Twitter of her grandmother blessing the Mexican team moments before the game started on Sunday. The video…
Catholic hospitals must stand their ground on abortion, writes David Quinn In the Dáil last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that Catholic hospitals will have to perform abortions under the terms of the upcoming abortion law. Let that sink in for a moment. Very few countries require such a thing because they know abortion…
Almost 3,000 young people attended the annual ‘Fan the Flame’ Mass on June 7. The event is for all children who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Derry during the past year and was celebrated in Celtic Park GAA Ground. The Mass also marks the end of their primary education, an important…
Authorities have raided Church offices in Chile on in an effort to obtain documents relating to the recent sex abuse scandal which has sparked the resignation of more than 30 bishops in the country. During the surprise raid, police seized documents and files relating to the ongoing clergy abuse investigation from the Santiago Ecclesiastical Court…
Pope Francis will soon be in Dublin for the World Meeting of Families, and attention is focusing on his teachings and what his message will be to the Church in Ireland. We continue to publish study guides to the Pope’s landmark documents – this week The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia) by Prof. Eamonn Conway…
It’s an inevitable fact that much of the religious patrimony of Ireland built up over centuries will disappear in coming years as religious orders sell off property to fund retirement care for elderly members. There is upset amongst some returned Spiritan missionaries in Dublin this week after they were told that their nursing home will…
The Faith Journey of the Déise People by Michael G. Olden (Diocese of Waterford & Lismore, €40.00 + €11.00 p&p; available from The Book Centre, 25 John Roberts Square, Waterford, tel: 051-873823, website@thebookcentre.ie) In the introduction to his new book Msgr Olden states that his aim is to provide a history of the diocese of Waterford…
Am I a Feminist? Are You? by Mary Kenny (New Island Books, €13.95) Those who can recall earlier manifestations of Mary Kenny might be daunted by a title so redolent of the #metoo generation and the fierce quarrels of the present day gender wars. But the present-day Mary is a person of great experience as well…
The environment has taken centre stage in Indonesia’s regional elections in South Kalimantan after it emerged that the vast majority of mining and palm oil businesses in the province flout environmental laws. According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry as many as 600 out of 700 businesses break the rules. They include contributing to air pollution, mismanagement…
David Quinn
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Peter Costello