European bishops July 18 released a statement condemning the drafting of a right to abortion in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, arguing that the proposed amendment would run afoul of European Union law and human dignity. The enshrining of abortion rights in the EU’s rights charter has been a prolonged subject of debate there.…
A little while ago, prowling in one of the few remaining second-hand book shops in Dublin, I picked up by chance a little pamphlet which I had long known about, but had never seen. Called simply Irish Folklore and Tradition in a plain grey wrapper, it was issued in March 1938 by the Department of Education, in…
In a 1990s movie, City Slickers, there’s a scene that sheds light on the importance of private integrity. Three men, New Yorkers, close friends, have gone off together for a summer to ride on a cattle drive in the hope that this experience will help them sort through their respective mid-life issues. There is no…
The Capuchin Day Centre continues to save lives, the new CEO tells Audrey Bryce “One of the primary values here is nonjudgment,” says Brian Friel, newly appointed CEO of the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. Brian Friel entered the public recruitment campaign and says he is “very thankful” to have been named the centre’s CEO…
Knock basilica was packed out for celebrations for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, July 23. Many generations of families, great-grandparents down to little children, from across Ireland and the world were represented at the pilgrimage. Bishop Denis Nulty of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin celebrated Mass, while Dana Rosemary…
In this ‘Notebook’ section of last week’s The Irish Catholic, Fr Bernard Cotter raised some very important points about the need to renew the Sacrament of Baptism in our parishes [The Irish Catholic – July 20, 2023]. He made a few suggestions of how this might happen and invited us to share any ideas we…
Dear Editor, Congratulations to the bishops for leading young pilgrims to World Youth Day in Lisbon, an event which serves as a beacon of hope and unity, fostering the Faith among the youth of Ireland and beyond. It deserves recognition and celebration. World Youth Day holds profound significance for young people and provides them with…
Argentine priest is Pope Francis’ new personal secretary Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 17 announced that Pope Francis has appointed a priest from the Buenos Aires Archdiocese, Fr Daniel Pellizzon, 40, to act as his personal secretary. Fr Pellizzon will replace Fr Gonzalo Aemilius in the position. Archbishop García said…
Mixed-religion marriages often present unique challenges in passing on the Faith In a mixed marriage someone has to compromise, and that someone was me. I married a Muslim man in 1995 oblivious to the challenges our religions would present in the future. I was living and working in Spain at the time. We met in…
US bishops warn against changing definition of brain death The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and a key Catholic bioethics group are both warning of a potential rewriting of US law to broaden the definition of brain death, a revision they claim relies on “deficient medical criteria”. The USCCB and the National Catholic…
Peter Costello
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Ruadhán Jones