Church leaders have moved to ensure that those teaching religion in Catholic schools will have a good grounding in Catholic theology and belief. It comes after the teaching council – the State body which regulates the teaching profession – lowered the level of understanding of Catholicism necessary to be employed to teach religious studies at…
Staff Reporter An Irish priest has been tapped by Pope Francis to take over the Vatican’s dialogue with the worldwide Anglican Communion. Fr Martin Browne OSB, a monk of Glenstal Abbey, will shortly take up the appointment in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity The Irish Catholic can reveal. It is a key time…
In a very close result ‘Amazing Grace’ was pipped at the post by ‘Lady of Knock’ in the search for Ireland’s favourite hymn. The competition was run by the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and Bishop Denis Nulty at the National Ploughing Championships last week. Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the results were announced,…
Bereavement support workers dealing with grieving people have called for a wider education in Ireland about the complex issue, insisting that modern culture allows less space for grief. Issue Sr Helen Culhane of the Children’s Grief Centre in Co. Limerick said she believes that previous generations handled the issue in a more supportive way. In…
A study suggests that Catholic ethos inspires schools to “go the extra mile” to integrate newly arrived migrant students (NAMS). The study published in the International Journal of Educational Research suggests that the ethos of the founding order of a Catholic school has particular “resonance” in welcoming NAMS. “All participants reference the ethos of the…
The first direct evidence that babies in the womb react differently to different smells and tastes by looking at their facial expressions has been presented by Durham University. Researchers found that babies exposed to carrot flavour showed more “laughter-face” responses while those exposed to the flavour of kale showed more “cry-face” responses. The study took…
Staff reporter The number of Catholic marriages in the North returned to near pre-pandemic levels in 2021, statistics from the Registrar General’s annual report show. Some 2,205 Catholic marriages took place in Northern Ireland in 2021, significantly more than the 844 in 2020 and on par with the 2,216 in 2019. Catholic marriages made up…
Staff reporter Europe has been warned to be “careful” to ensure member states, respect access to abortion following the election of Italy’s likely new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party won the most votes in Italy’s snap-election on Sunday, with Ms Meloni saying they would “govern for everyone” and wouldn’t betray…
Catholics now make up the largest religious identity in the North, but it’s not translating into people coming to church, a well-known Belfast priest has said. Responding to the findings of the 2021 census, Fr Martin Magill told The Irish Catholic that it shows the challenge of faith formation facing the Church in Ireland. The…
Staff reporter Senator Ronán Mullen launched an Oireachtas essay competition on the theme “Parliamentary Politics Matter” for second-level students in Leinster House, September 22. Speaking at the launch, Senator Mullen warned that Ireland faces a time when “many people are wondering about the quality of our politics and the future of democracy itself”. He hoped…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady