The future success of the European Union in the wake of the Brexit vote is dependent on the extent to which its “spiritual roots” are kept alive, Bishop Brendan Leahy has said. “Europe is about more than simply economics or social policies,” the Bishop of Limerick told The Irish Catholic. “The European project was about…
Cathal Barry
Joe Biden makes an impromptu visit to Dublin church for Mass
US Vice President Joe Biden made an unscheduled visit to a well-known Dublin Church to attend Mass during his recent visit to Ireland, The Irish Catholic can report. It is understood that Mr Biden was accompanied by members of the secret service as he attended Sunday morning Mass at St Peter’s Church, Phibsborough, before returning…
Five Kerry parishes now without resident clergy
A lack of vocations and a combination of deaths, illnesses, and retirements in the Diocese of Kerry have left five of the dioceses’ 53 parishes without resident priests. Ballyheigue and Duagh join Valentia Island, Tarbert, and Allihies in west Cork, in being being served by priests in nearby pastoral areas, with the effect that in…
Positive discrimination ‘essential’ for minority faith schools
Some level of positive discrimination is “essential” to safeguarding minority faith schools, Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on education has said. Meath East TD Thomas Byrne warned against removing the provision of the Equal Status Act, which prohibits religious discrimination, claiming that Church of Ireland and other minority religious schools “could suffer disproportionately” as a result. Referring…
The desire for happiness
The beatitude we are promised, according to the Church, confronts us with decisive moral choices, writes Cathal Barry
Anxious future for North after Brexit vote, warns Primate
‘Nervousness and uncertainty’ over free movement at border
New ‘school of mission’ to prioritise youth ministry
A new “school of mission” in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore will prioritise youth evangelisation and family ministry, Bishop Phonsie Cullinan has said. The new Holy Family School of Mission is set to open later this year at Glencomeragh House, formerly the Rosminian House of Prayer, and will be manned by three trained staff…
Crisis pregnancy agency rejects claims it’s no longer pro-life
The chairperson of a well-known crisis pregnancy agency has rejected claims that the organisation no longer subscribes to its pro-life founding intentions. Dr Patrick Davey, Chairperson of Anew (formerly Life Pregnancy Care Ireland) told, told The Irish Catholic it was a matter “of great sadness that there are members of Life/Anew who feel that they…
Facing the challenges for the Church
Cathal Barry reports from a major international conference addressing the role of the Church in society
In the image of God
The Church teaches that the human person participates in the power of the divine Spirit, writes Cathal Barry