Bishops in Pakistan have called for prayer after an angry mob vandalised several Christian homes and churches in the district of Faisalabad August 16 following allegations of blasphemy and desecration of the Koran. In a brief social media post, the Pakistani bishops on their “Catholics in Pakistan” Facebook page said that “on 16th August, an…
Frank Litton Regime Change: Towards a Postliberal Future, Patrick J. Deneen (Forum Press/an imprint of Swift Press, £22.00/€27.50) Patrick J. Deneen’s Regime Change has attracted a good deal of attention. Reviewers have acknowledged his intelligence, his command of political philosophy and praised his writing skills. But they have baulked at his conclusions, claiming that…
Hundreds of pilgrims flocked to the Holy Rosary shrine on the Lee Road in Cork for the 72nd year to mark the Feast Day of the Assumption last week. Bishop emeritus of Cork and Ross. John Buckley. was the chief celebrant of the Mass, which only returned this year – the last pilgrimage occurring in…
A colleague of mine, a clinical therapist, shares this story: A woman came to him in considerable distress. Her husband had recently died of a heart attack. His death had been sudden and at a most inept time. They’d been happily married for 30 years and, during all those years, had never had a major…
Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, said August 19 that a community of Carmelites in his diocese, and their prioress in particular, may have incurred excommunication after posting a letter online on August 18 saying their community no longer recognises his authority, claiming that he has interfered with and humiliated them since initiating…
It was good to see the theme of vocations getting prominence last week in the media. It was sparked by journalist Sean O’Rourke’s address to a gathering at Knock. He favoured encouraging young people to consider joining the priesthood. Stand-in presenter Jonathan Healy discussed the vocations crisis on the Pat Kenny Show (Newstalk, Friday). David…
Charity offers supports for children returning to school An Irish children’s charity are aiming to help young people returning to school, as well as those transitioning from primary to secondary school. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) have highlighted their ‘Smart Moves’ resource. The charity said they are aware of the…
A new book aims to show us that questions rather than commandments bring us closer to God and one another, writes Jason Osborne The Dominican Order has long been associated with the disciplined pursuit of truth, and the only tool we have for questing after truth is the question. With that in mind, it’s shameful…
The Jesuit-run Central American University in Managua suspended operations August 16 after Nicaraguan authorities branded the school a “centre of terrorism” the previous day and froze its assets for confiscation – actions marking an escalation in the regime’s repression of the Catholic Church and its charitable and educational projects The Jesuit province in Central America…
Dear Editor, I write in response to the recent article discussing the unjust sentencing of Bishop Rolando Álvarez in Nicaragua [The Irish Catholic – August 10, 2023]. The primate’s call for the release of Bishop Álvarez from prison is not only a matter of humanitarian concern, but also a reflection of the core values that…
Chai Brady
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Brendan O’Regan