As representatives of the global Church in the Synod in Rome enter an intensive phase of debate on contentious issues such as women priests and same-sex blessings, participants have heard pleas to avoid taking divisive stances. As delegates commenced work on their hotly-anticipated final document meeting due this weekend, Dominican theologian Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP…
Ireland-Vatican relations are now better than they’ve been in a long time, senior Vatican diplomats believe. It comes after the latest audience in which Pope Francis hosted President Michael D. Higgins at the Vatican last Thursday. The meeting was the fourth such engagement between President Higgins and Pope Francis, following previous meetings in the Vatican in 2017 and 2021 and…
The trustees and patrons of Catholic schools are to engage with the Government to safeguard the future of Catholic education, a secondary schools body has announced. The move comes at a time when the Government is coming under increasing pressure from opposition TDs and activists to rush through divestment. The Association of Patrons and Trustees…
Ukrainians who had little to do with the Church in Ukraine are re-engaging with the Church in Ireland according to Ukrainian Catholic chaplain, Fr Vasyl Kornitsky, as the Ukrainian Catholic community adjusts its pastoral approach to a more long term view in Ireland. Recently begun ‘Ask a priest’ evenings have been very well received, according…
The recommendation by the Citizens’ Assembly on drugs to end the prosecution of those found with illegal drugs for personal use has been welcomed by the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI), with the vice-chair saying a ‘health-led’ approach demands a “huge change in funding”. Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh Michael Router told The Irish Catholic the…
Perhaps the strongest argument for legalising – or at least decriminalising – cannabis (and other recreational drugs) is that this measure takes it out of the hands of criminal drug-dealers. If people are going to smoke weed anyway, let it be through a legal route – just as cigarettes remain legal, even if unhealthy. And…
It will take “a long time” to come back from floods that devastated businesses and homes in towns in East Cork and West Waterford, a priest in the badly affected town of Midleton has said. Businesses and homes in the East Cork town are facing millions of euros worth of damages from the floods that…
The founder of the community development organisation Muintir na Tíre, Canon John Hayes and his role in the development of rural Ireland were celebrated Saturday at the Church of the Annunciation in Bansha. Canon Hayes, who ministered in the parish of Bansha/Kilmoyler, led many rural community initiatives, foremost among them being rural electrification. Speaking to…
What are we doing to stop a third world war? What can we do? I never thought I would write these words, but increasingly the possibility of renewed global conflict is being raised by many distinguished individuals. Is this what it was like in the 1930s, as the world watched the rise of Hitler and…
The Government has given £270k to the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain to support its work supporting the faith of the Irish diaspora. The grant came as part of a £6.23 million package from the Department for Foreign Affairs to support the Irish community in Great Britain. A number of other Christian and Catholic organisations received…
Michael Kelly
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan