Independent TD Michael McNamara has raised questions concerning the legality of church lockdowns in the event of a public health emergency. Taking note of a disparity between the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, Mr McNamara has pointed out that “there is clearly a legal issue” about locking down on the basis of…
The Irish Catholic is delighted to announce the appointment of two new journalists. Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne have joined the editorial department as Multimedia Journalists working across the newspaper’s print, digital, video and audio output. Mr Jones is a native of Cork and holds a bachelor’s degree in film and screen media and English…
We must count the cost of Covid-19 and invest in the future of end-of-life and bereavement care in Ireland writes Sharon Foley We, as a nation, are still in the grip of a pandemic, unprecedented in recent living memory. Its effect was immediate and apparent. The necessary national response to Covid-19 has been – and…
The View Last week, an item was discussed on RTÉ’s Liveline, prompted by a leaflet published by the HSE advocating that people resort to masturbation and sexual activity online during this time of social distancing. The host, Katie Hannon, took calls from a number of people, many of whom expressed concerns at the HSE’s advice.…
Donations remained strong in 2019, but the effects of Covid-19 cast a shadow over the future, writes Ruadhán Jones On the surface of it, the annual report for 2019/20 from Trócaire is a positive one, in so far as these ever are. However, the arrival of Covid-19 hangs as a cloud over both fundraising and development…
New research which reveals that congregations could fall by as much as a quarter should serve as a wake-up call to all of us writes Michael Kelly It’s more than six months since restrictions were first imposed on the celebration of public Masses in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Many parishes…
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said that China’s interim deal with the Vatican has been “implemented successfully”. He made the remark days before the provisional agreement signed by the Vatican and China on September 22, 2018, is due to expire. “With the concerted efforts from both sides, the interim agreement on the appointment of…
A senior Vatican official arrived in Belarus for talks after the leader of the country’s Catholic Church was barred from returning to his homeland. Belarusian state media reported on September 11 that Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher was in Belarus for four days of diplomatic talks a month after the country’s disputed presidential election triggered widespread protests. The…
The Church will not grow through fresh strategies alone, but only when priests underline the importance of God’s love for everyone, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has insisted. Speaking in Dublin’s pro-cathedral on Tuesday during the ordination to the priesthood of Fr Frank Drescher, Dr Martin insisted that the Church must change to meet the needs of…
Only a small minority of British Catholics said they would not return to worship in church when the coronavirus pandemic is fully over, according to a new survey. Just 4% of people interviewed in the study, conducted between May 19 and July 26, said they would abandon going to church when restrictions are finally lifted.…
Maria Steen
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly