79 In percentage terms the number of US Catholics who view Pope Francis favourably, according to research conducted by the Pew Research Centre. Just 4% of Catholics in America say they have an unfavourable view of the first Latin American Pope, while 17% express no opinion or say they have not heard enough about…
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US contraception concerns
The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has said the Catholic Health Association’s acceptance of rules governing women’s access to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act was “less than helpful” to the bishops’ effort to seek changes in the mandate. “We have not, ourselves as bishops, been able to arrive at…
Pope’s Assisi visit will put focus on St Francis
Before the papal election Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio hadn’t given a thought to what name he would choose if he was elected Pope. The very idea hadn’t even entered his mind. Even immediately after his election he still hadn’t thought what name to choose. Then a good friend of his, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of Sao…
Lessons on military interventions not learnt
Dear Editor, Despite his political manoeuvring, one suspects that President Barak Obama intends to bomb Syria. It is amazing that the West does not learn from the results of its military intervention in Iraq, Afganistan and Libya. In the case of Iraq these results have been catastrophic. The proposal that it should intervene in the fratricidal…
Headlines with double meanings
Dear Editor, Did you notice the ambiguity on page 4 in your September 12 headline, “Police patrol threatened Catholic schools”. When I first read the headline, I read it as saying that police patrols had gone to Catholic schools so as to attack them. But, when I read the article, it was clear that the police…
Year of Faith pilgrimage to Ardmore
On Sunday, September 1 nearly 80 pilgrims set off from the St Laurence Pastoral Area (Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, St John’s, Sacred Heart, Ss Joseph, Benildus and Mary, Killea, Crooke and Faithlegg) in the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore on pilgrimage to the Ardmore Monastic site to mark the Year of Faith. First stop…
Mayo musical mountaineers launch choral festival
Last Saturday saw the Mayo International Choral Festival reach new heights as the 2014 syllabus was officially launched from the top of Croagh Patrick. Climbers representing Castlebar Parish Choir, Cill Aodáin Choral Society, Cór Mhaigh Eo, Mayo Male Voice Choir, the Moy Singers and Westport Choral Society became ‘musical mountaineers’ for the day and hit…
Promoting fertility awareness
Dear Editor, Fertility awareness is a subject that comes up for discussion in the media from time to time. However it falls short of explaining that there is information available that every woman should know. This is information, scientifically proven, whereby a couple can plan or postpone a pregnancy, as deemed necessary. It would…
Cloyne Year of Faith talks
A series of autumn Year of Faith talks in the Diocese of Cloyne examining the documents of Vatican II begins in various locations throughout the diocese next month. Bishop William Crean said the talks are “a wonderful opportunity” to explore some of the documents from Vatican II and people may be “surprised by the…
Mayobride Year of Faith talks
On Wednesday night St Patrick’s Parish, Mayobridge, Co. Down welcomed Sr Briege Mc Kenna to speak as part of their Year of Faith Programme of faith talks. Over 1,200 people flocked to hear Sr Briege share her faith and pray for healing. Mayobridge Parish has been home to the Poor Clare Sisters since 1924.…