The first priest in more than two years was ordained for the Diocese of Meath over the weekend, with Bishop Tom Deenihan saying it is a “sign of hope…despite all the prophets of doom”. Bishop Deenihan ordained Fr Norman Allred in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on September 20, His…
When asked by his superior if he wanted to leave Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War, Fr Edward Tamer replied that he would remain with the people “to die with them and for them”. Now, having survived the worst of the violence of the war, the Franciscan friar has died of Covid-19 at the age…
World Missions Ireland (WMI) are appealing for donations to support the “life-giving work of missionaries” as Covid-19 threatens their main fundraising event. The annual World Mission Sunday (WMS) collection takes place around the world, but church closures and recessions could mean a significant reduction in donations, said Fr Michael O’Sullivan, national director of WMI. “As…
While fighting Covid-19 might save lives, it can also cost lives, livelihoods and future prospects, writes David Quinn At the time of writing, Dublin appears to be the only place in the whole of Europe that does not permit public worship, including public Masses. Places with much higher infection rates than Dublin are permitting public…
A renowned priest exorcist has said the coronavirus is a “dress rehearsal” before “the great tribulation” and that God is giving people a chance to reassess their current situation and turn their lives around. Fr Pat Collins CM, a Vincentian based in Blackrock in Dublin, has said that God did not send Covid-19 but that…
Homeless charity Depaul has revealed that they’ve helped 256 people to leave direct provision centres since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. This figure involves 140 adults and 116 children, with 55 families included. The charity worked exclusively with people who’d been granted legal status to remain in Ireland, across seven counties. Depaul’s CEO, David…
Congolese bishops are expressing solidarity with Denis Mukwege, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynecologist who has received death threats over his continued call for justice and accountability over war crimes. The doctor – who shared the 2018 prize with victims of sexual violence in Congo – has been repairing women torn apart by rape in the…
The challenge for the Church is to move to authentic co-responsibility between priests and people the new Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes tells Michael Kelly In his apostolic exhortation ‘Christus vivet’ published last year, Pope Francis spoke of the youthfulness of the Church and prayed: “Let us ask the Lord to free the Church from…
An advocacy group for Christians and other religious minorities living in the Middle East this week praised an agreement between Israel and Bahrain, which comes on the heels of a similar agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. “While there are many contentious issues left to be discussed in the Middle East Peace Process…
Twilight of Democracy: the failure of politics and the parting of friends by Anne Applebaum (Allen Lane, £16.99) Felix M. Larkin After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Western-style liberal democracy was in the ascendant as never before. During the previous two centuries, it had triumphed over…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn
Michael Kelly