The grave of a Co. Tyrone poet who died two centuries ago is to be given a long-awaited headstone next month. Strabane-native John McCrossan – also known as the Evish Bard – has lay in an unmarked grave since his death in 1895. Around 100 members of his family from around the world will meet…
The back-to-school routine doesn’t have to be a daunting military operation, writes Colm Fitzpatrick It’s been a summer of late nights, gluttonous meals and relaxed rules, but with school just around the corner, the dread of dealing with tantrums from a pouting child is becoming more palpable. Every year, parents around the country must…
Letter from Rome Up to this point, the ire of those who believe Cardinal George Pell is innocent of the charges of child sexual abuse brought against him in his home country has been directed largely at the Australian judiciary, most recently at a Victoria appeals court that upheld his conviction on Wednesday in…
As neighbouring countries try to mediate an ongoing trade war between Japan and South Korea, one bishop has stepped into the ring urging both sides to “rational dialogue” in solving their problems without further escalation. Bishop Taiji Katsuya of Sapporo, president of the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, issued a statement earlier this…
Four Church-owned primary schools are switching to non-denominational patronage models ahead of the new school year. The schools in Kerry, Wexford and Roscommon had all been facing closure due to declining enrolments, with one in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry having just 14 pupils. Although dioceses have previously transferred empty school buildings to non-denominational or multi-denominational patron…
Medical Matters The Fair Deal Scheme has once again come under increasing pressure and scrutiny this year as costs rise and concerns loom that delays will ensue for older adults waiting to access nursing home care. Introduced in 2009 as a new way to help finance long term care, it replaced a wholly inadequate…
Indian police arrested six suspected members of a hard-line Hindu group for attacking 40 Catholics taking part in a 280-mile pilgrimage to a Marian shrine in Velankanni in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The attackers were accused of blocking the pilgrims on a public road last week and beating and verbally abusing them, a…
Cad Fúinne, Mar Sin?/ What of us, then? by Colm Ó Tórna (Foilsithe ag Teangscéal/ Áisínteacht Dáilúcháin Leabhar, €10.00/€13.50 post paid; from An Siopa Leabhar, 6 Sráid Fhearchair, Dublin 2; email: siopa@cnag.ie) At the outset the author provides a depressing, albeit accurate, description of the prevailing culture. He states that its true nature was revealed in…
We live in a culture that idealises youth and marginalises the old. And, as James Hillman says, the old don’t let go easily either of the throne or the drive that took them there. I know; I’m aging. For most of my life, I’ve been able to think of myself as young. Because I was…
Catholic university steps up on abuse prevention – Pontiff A specialised centre at Chile’s premier Catholic university can help the Church protect minors and vulnerable persons from the scourge of clerical sexual abuse, which has plagued the Church in the country and around the world, Pope Francis has said. In a video message played on August 15 during the inaugural ceremony of the…
Colm Fitzpatrick
John L. Allen Jr.
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Fr Ronald Rolheiser