Outdated language has no place says disability theologian An Irish theologian who advocates for persons living with a disability has said that comments from the Taoiseach describing political opponents as “slow learners” amounts to a slur on people with a learning disability. Dr Liam Waldron described as “completely unacceptable” the Taoiseach’s description of Sinn Féin…
Three schools in Raheny are to stay under Catholic patronage after heated debate in the North Dublin community, and despite the lobbying of a local TD. The three schools took part in a pilot scheme that investigated local interest for divestment, but Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed they were “not amenable to or potential…
What are we to make of the appalling report from the Central Statistics Office that a quarter of adult women in Ireland have experienced sexual violence from a partner? “The online acceptance of casual relationships must surely be a risk factor” According to the Sexual Violence Survey 2022, over half of the victims had been…
Lay people will increasingly be asked to step up to the plate in one of Ireland’s largest diocese as priest numbers are expected to fall to dramatically. The Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Down and Connor will say this Sunday that “very soon” it’s likely the celebration of a Requiem Mass will “no longer…
A proposed change to traffic access on a bus route in Rathmines will be a “a disaster” for elderly parishioners and those with mobility issues, the parish priest has warned. A ‘bus gate’ – a length of road open only to busses, taxis and cyclists – outside Rathmines parish church would be “a disaster” and…
Belfast actor James Martin is set to be recognised for his contribution to the arts by Ulster University. Star of the Oscar-winning Northern Irish short film, An Irish Goodbye, Mr Martin is the first person with Down’s Syndrome to win film’s biggest award. Responding to the news of his Honorary Doctorate, James said: “I will…
In March of last year, emails between senior officials in several Government departments discussing the preparations necessary for a surge in the number of people arriving in Ireland who would need accommodation, were released under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. The expected newcomers under discussion in that instance were Ukrainian people displaced by the war,…
Pope Francis has asked Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna to lead a mission “to help ease tensions in the conflict in Ukraine,” the Vatican press office said. The appointment of the cardinal, who is president of the Italian bishops’ conference and a long-time member of the Sant’Egidio Community, was confirmed May 20 by Matteo…
Deputy leader of pro-life party Aontú in the North, Gemma Brolly has expressed regret following disappointment in the recent local elections. Sinn Féin was the big winner of the election, and is now the largest party in both local government and Stormont for the first time after making huge gains. With all seats counted, the…
Catholic and Protestant schools’ bodies in the North have expressed “deep disappointment” at cuts to shared education initiatives, despite their “clear benefits”. Shared education projects bring staff and pupils from different religious backgrounds together on a regular basis, but funding will be halved this year and cease entirely from 2024 under Stormont’s 2023-24 budget. The…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
Mary Kenny