A well-known Chinese prelate has dubbed a new deal between the Vatican and China as a “betrayal” of Catholics in the country. For the first time in decades, all of the Catholic bishops in China are in full communion with the Pope, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Kong, called on…
The blandness of Francis’ speeches in Ireland is mysterious, writes David Quinn It is now one month since Pope Francis was in Ireland. If you were to conduct a poll and ask people what they remember about the visit, how would they respond? If you asked them what the Pope had to say, I…
In the past few years, the moral legitimacy of euthanasia has become a hot-button issue and even in Christian circles, opposition to its implementation has been waning. Indeed, only last week did former Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu say that terminally ill people should have the right to a “dignified assisted death”, following a murder charge…
A Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso. Italian Fr Pierluigi Maccalli, a member of the Society of African Missions, was taken last week after suspected Islamist gunmen attacked his rectory in the village of Bamoanga. “The kidnapping happened at around 9pm. According to local residents, about eight men…
A much-vaunted deal between the Vatican and communist China is eliciting pushback, writes Max Rosner After years of intermittent talks, the Holy See and Chinese Communist Party have signed a provisional deal regarding the confirmation and appointment of bishops. Pope Francis has formally recognised seven bishops originally appointed by the communist authorities without Vatican…
The Archbishop of Newark has announced he will not attend an October gathering of bishops slated to discuss young adults and vocational discernment. The archbishop cited his pastoral obligations in the archdiocese amid the US Church’s ongoing sexual abuse crisis. “This Synod is a uniquely important moment in the life of the Church, and I…
With this year’s plenary gathering of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe being held in Poland, solidarity seemed an obvious theme, alluding as it did to the trade union founded by Lech Walesa in 1980 that was crucial in bringing about the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe. “The theme of solidarity…
The Government should explain whether it believes it ought to be legal to publish anything at all of a blasphemous nature, a former attorney general has said. Speaking in a debate in the Seanad about next month’s referendum on repealing the constitutional ban on blasphemy, Senator Michael McDowell said that rather than simply repealing the…
In Lithuania, a nation that has experienced invasions, atrocities and persecution, Pope Francis began his visit with a plea to break down walls of suspicion and fear. “If we look at the world scene in our time, more and more voices are sowing division and confrontation – often by exploiting insecurity or situations of conflict…
Curious Creatures: Frans Post & Brazil exhibition curated by Niamh MacNally, National Gallery of Ireland, continues to December 9, 2018 Curious Creatures: Frans Post & Brazil catalogue edited by Niamh MacNally (NGI, €9.95) Frans Post: Animals in Brazil by Alexander de Bruin (Riks Museum, Amsterdam, €19.95) When Europeans first intruded into South America their view…
David Quinn
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Peter Costello