The View Since the abortion referendum passed, there has been a concerted effort by abortion proponents — including the Government — to restrict the freedom of expression of pro-life supporters. Peaceful prayer vigils outside hospitals are likened to violence and there are moves to ban them. Not content with this, it now seems that even…
The chair of the task force established by Archbishop Dermot Farrell has said there will be an emphasis on pastoral initiatives aimed at “animating parishes”. Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll of Donnybrook parish, chairperson of the ‘Task Force on a Church for the Dublin of Tomorrow’ which comes under the title ‘Building Hope’, said it is “exciting”.…
Bishop Dónal McKeown concluded the weeklong retreat in memory of Sr Clare Crockett by praying for her canonisation, as people tuned in from across the globe. The retreat, organised to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Derry nun’s death in Ecuador, saw an average of 4,800 people tune into the livestream every day. “The amount…
Ireland is facing a trifold housing crisis, in terms of homelessness, rent eviction and affordability, writes Ruadhán Jones On Friday April 23, the national ban on evictions from homes in the rental market was lifted. Housing charities and experts have warned of a potential “eviction crisis” as a result, as effects of Covid on jobs…
The Pope is putting greater faith in the local Church and does not believe that the magisterium must intervene to settle every doctrinal, moral and pastoral dispute, writes Fr Declan Marmion SM The Catholic Church is typically structured as a pyramid – the Pope at the top, people at the base. Pope Francis wants to…
The religious persecution exercised by China and North Korea, restrictions on religious freedom in dozens of countries and the continuing threat of violence at the hands of religious fundamentalists belonging to a variety of faiths all have worsened since 2018, said Aid to the Church in Need, a papal foundation and Catholic charity. The problems…
There was “great excitement” among families as 68 schoolchildren received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Clogher over the weekend. The children of Aghalurcher parish in Lisnaskea/Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh, were some of the first to receive the Sacrament in the diocese this year. Fr Jimmy McPhillips PP told The Irish Catholic: “We are…
Bishops across the United States on April 20 and 21 responded to the guilty verdict for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, in the trial for the murder of George Floyd. Two chairs of committees at the US bishops’ conference (USCCB) issued a joint statement last Tuesday evening, after a jury found Chauvin guilty of…
How the Irish Saved Civilisation and The Gifts of the Jews (The Hinges of History Series) by Thomas Cahill (Sceptre, £9.99 paperback each) Thomas Cahill’s strength is not his historical accuracy, nor the depth and perceptiveness of his theories. Perhaps this is curious, given he is an American scholar of history and philosophy. Born in New…
It’s hard for the schools to teach the Faith if all the parents want is ‘Catholic-lite’, writes David Quinn Your average Catholic school today is not, in fact, very Catholic at all. That statement needs a bit of unpacking. A Catholic school is, of course, officially Catholic in that it comes under the patronage of…
Maria Steen
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn