On the eve of the new millennium in 1999, the US writer George Weigel published his seminal biography of Pope John Paul II. Mr Weigel titled the 1,000+ page book Witness to Hope because he felt this encapsulated both the Polish Pontiff’s long-standing ministry and his feelings for the Church as we entered the third…
Fr Donal O’Mahony – an activist, advocate, peacemaker and negotiator – was an extraordinary man, who set about to improve housing rights for families and individuals. His legacy now lives on in Threshold which he founded in 1978, an organisation dedicated to housing rights and homeless prevention. Today, we are in the midst of Ireland’s…
The conviction of three men for abducting and torturing businessman Kevin Lunney sends a “very strong message” to criminals who have been intimidating people for decades in the border region, according to a Cavan-based priest. Fr Oliver O’Reilly PP of Ballyconnell, who received threats for condemning the attack from the pulpit, told The Irish Catholic…
Moves to celebrate St Brigid as a Celtic goddess, following reports a new national holiday will be celebrated in the saint’s name, have been described as “nonsense”. The founder of a monastery at the saint’s birthplace, Sr Briege O’Hare, a Poor Clare sister based in Faughart, Co. Louth, said “St Brigid is no goddess”. “She…
US property group Hines has received permission for almost 1,600 build-to-rent apartments on Clonliffe Road in Drumcondra, Dublin, the site of the old Holy Cross Seminary. Residents and locals have reportedly expressed disappointment over the move, feeling it ignores the sentiments of the community. An Bord Pleanála in its decision acknowledged that the height and…
Because there may well be shortages in the shops come December – and even with on-line shopping – some prudent folks already have all their Christmas shopping, bar last-minute food, arranged, wrapped, and ready to deliver. A late Thanksgiving interrupted the space for Christmas shopping” There has been a world-wide disruption of supply chains, largely,…
Bishop Donal McKeown has defended bishops against the Association of Catholic Priests’ (ACP) claims that they are targeting priests, saying that both he and the bishops he knows “are trying to ensure that they do the best for their priests”. Speaking on Good Morning Ulster alongside ACP priest Fr Roy Donovan, Bishop McKeown responded to…
The View Last year, then Minister for Health, Simon Harris – a man with a commitment to making abortion easily available – said that the abortion pill could be prescribed remotely during the Covid-19 crisis. Previously, the HSE had said that pregnant women needed to attend a pre-abortion consultation in a surgery or clinic. When this…
Chai Brady and Brandon Scott Farmers must be supported in their transition to more sustainable farming methods and the fact consumers want food as cheap as possible must be addressed, according to the bishop of Kilmore diocese. Bishop Martin Hayes, who attended COP26 in Glasgow and is the episcopal coordinator for Laudato Si’ – the…
The Pope met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican last week, where the Secretariat of State stressed the need to restart direct dialogue to achieve a two-state solution with Israel, while also recognising the need for peaceful coexistence among the various faiths. Addressing the meeting between the two leaders, a Vatican statement announced…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady
Mary Kenny