Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital tomorrow (Saturday) if his condition continues to improve, the Vatican has said. The 86-year-old Pontiff was hospitalised on Wednesday after reportedly saying he had chest pain and difficulties breathing. He was diagnosed with bronchitis which is being treated by antibiotics. Doctors have ruled out…
Fewer than one in ten Mass-going Irish Catholics have participated in the much talked about synod process, according to new research. When it comes to younger Catholics (those under 35), just 6% of those who say they regularly go to Mass availed of the opportunity to become involved in the process which many Church leaders…
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has insisted that the Government must give assurance to Catholic parents that their right to choose a Catholic school for their children will be fully respected. He warned that parents’ right to choose a school with a Catholic ethos must be an integral part of the discussion around diversity of…
A group of more than 200 Protestant pastors have written to the Government urging it to stop plans to expose Junior Certificate students to pornographic content and to teach what they describe as “transgender ideology” in primary schools. The pastors warn that the proposals would increase “the numbers of broken and damaged individuals we already…
An Irish politician who raised concerns about the extent of the scoping inquiry into abuse at schools has been told the investigation will prioritise just religious-run Catholic schools. This comes after the Government announced that it appointed a barrister Mary O’Toole SC to investigate recent allegations of historic abuse made by former students of schools…
Pope Francis’ updated measures for investigating allegations of sexual abuse do not go far enough in terms of transparency, according to an Irish abuse survivor and expert. Over the weekend the Pope updated Vos Estis Lux Mundi (You are the light of the world), which expanded the categories of victims covered by the regulations to…
Sean O Domhnaill With his side in a division two final against Dublin in Croke Park last weekend, a great achievement for Louth at this time, it’s clear Mickey Harte and his management team have given the squad hope and confidence. In a sense, he did much the same to the very large crowd that…
Biodiversity is a buzz word in Ireland today. In response, to the dramatic decline in the population of many species and the accompanying climate change, the spring general meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference put forward the goal to provide 30% of parish grounds by 2030 over to biodiversity. Glenstal Abbey School, Co. Limerick,…
Irish charity Goal reached 14.6 million people with programmes in emergency response, health, nutrition and food security, livelihoods, and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) across the agency’s 14 countries of operation in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Ukraine, according to their impact figures for 2022. The aid agency reached 3.6 million people in…
James and Grace were the most popular first names given to babies in the North, for births registered in 2022. This is one of the findings of the Baby Names 2022 statistics published this week by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. The statistics show Grace has held the top spot as the most…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady