Month: November 2021

Pope Francis names Franciscan sister to No. 2 position in Vatican City State

Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State. Sr Petrini is the first woman and non-clergy member to be secretary general of the Vatican’s governorate. She replaces Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, who was promoted to president, effective October 1. The governorate is the…

Religious people more likely to take personal responsibility for climate

People who describe themselves as religious are significantly more likely to take responsibility for climate change than the general population. New research also reveals that young people are particularly inclined to lay the blame for climate change at the hands of government rather than taking personal responsibility. As world leaders gather in Glasgow to try…

Metaverse a ‘distraction’ from real-world issues

Mark Zuckerberg’s plans for the ‘metaverse’ have been criticised as “pure escapism” by Jesuit priest Fr Kevin O’Higgins. Facebook’s Mr Zuckerberg recently announced his company’s rebranding as ‘Meta’ which he described as more in-line with their plans and focus on building the ‘metaverse’. The metaverse is envisioned as a breakthrough of the internet into the…

ACP claim bishops are targeting priests

The Association of Catholic Priests has claimed that some bishops have banned gay priests from working in parishes. However, the group did not name any diocese in a series of allegations contained in a statement released to the media ahead of the annual meeting this week. Another claim from the group is that some priests…

Joy in Navan as Fr Louis celebrates 25 years

There was a jubilant atmosphere as Navan parish in Co. Meath celebrated the 25th  year of ordination of Fr Louis Illah, who arrived from the parish of St Peter and Paul in Egume, Nigeria in 2013. Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the celebratory Mass, which saw Fr Louis presented with gifts from Navan Parish…

Are we born bad and need to learn to be good?

Katharine Birbalsingh is a renowned British educator and headmistress of a school she founded: she is reckoned to be among the 20 most influential individuals in British education, and was recently appointed chairwoman of the Social Mobility Commission. There was a storm of protest, and others who served on the Social Mobility Commission rejected Ms…