The Irish health budget comes to some €17 billion per annum. That is an astounding sum of money. We believe we have an underfunded health system, but actually, compared with the size of our population, we spend more on health than most industrialised countries. This is despite the fact that our population is younger on…
Month: February 2019
Cautious optimism as abuse survivors react to Vatican summit
Despite an “enormous amount of urgent work” still needed to protect vulnerable children according to some Irish abuse survivors, they feel the Vatican abuse summit was a worthwhile endeavour. Dublin councillor Damian O’Farrell said he felt positive about the openness and honesty of many cardinals as well as the Pope during the four-day meeting which…
Overwhelming Democrat shift on abortion stance – new poll
Americans have shifted toward a pro-life stance in recent weeks during a period when some states are considering legislation that would legalise abortion up until birth, according to a new poll. The Marist Poll at Marist College conducted in mid-February found that equal numbers of Americans – 47% – identified themselves as pro-life and as…
Jewish reps ‘horrified’ at antisemitism upsurge in France
Following a huge increase in anti-Semitic attacks in France and Britain’s Labour Party embroilment in anti-Semitism, Ireland’s Jewish community are “horrified” but relieved this is not the case here, but warn criticism of Israel can shadow or morph into racism. A February government report in France revealed a 74% rise in anti-Semitic incidents, increasing from…
Vandalism of historic crypt ‘attacks Christian communities’
The ransacking of a historic Church of Ireland church crypt is a “desecration” and an “attack on Christian communities”, a prominent inner-city priest has said. The raid on the crypt of St Michan’s Church on Dublin’s Church Street was discovered at 1pm on Monday, February 25, when a tour guide was preparing to open the…
Tipperary council silent over ‘blasphemous’ video
A local authority is remaining tight-lipped after a blasphemous video it funded and originally defended was apparently removed from a popular media-sharing website this week. Tipperary County Council confirmed to The Irish Catholic that it gave a local artist what it described as a “small grant” to develop the project which depicted the title character ‘Bootleg Jesus’…
St John Paul’s closest aide defends Pope’s legacy on abuse
Letter from Poland Paulina Guzik During a high-profile summit on clerical sexual abuse that wrapped up at the Vatican at the weekend, the late Pope John Paul II’s response to the scandals has been cited more than once – a surprise for many, perhaps, who thought the Church began taking the issue seriously only…
Post-Charlie Gard, experts want sick infants to speak for themselves
Claire Giangrave Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans, two infants with degenerative diseases who died once life support was withdrawn, became global cause celebres largely due to outspoken parents raising their voice for what they perceived as the best interest of their child, demanding that every possible avenue be explored to save their lives. But a…
French bishops condemn violence as anti-Semitic attacks increase
The French bishops’ conference has condemned rising anti-Semitism in the country, as official data showed a massive increase of attacks, prompting new government measures. The conference president, Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, wrote to France’s chief rabbi, Haim Korsia. “Attacks from seemingly religious motives on our fellow citizens are unacceptable; we stand beside you in…
Are science and religion enemies?
Questions of Faith One common argument presented against religious people is that faith is completely incompatible with science and the empirical method. The sentence might go something like this: “I only believe in what we can see, analyse and prove, whereas religion says we should believe ideas based solely on faith. They’re completely contradictory.”…