Prelates overjoyed with Pope meeting
Paul Keenan
Dublin champ grateful for ‘gift of faith’
All-Ireland champion footballer Ger Brennan has spoken of the “gift of faith” in his life. Fresh from his part in Dublin’s triumph at last Sunday’s GAA final, Brennan took to the airwaves to speak of his faith and his planned participation in Mission Month in October. Asserting his distinct sense of “a divine presence in…
World Report: Case against Pope Benedict withdrawn
A case brought before a court in the US state of Milwaukee against Pope Benedict and the Holy See for alleged cover-ups of abuse there has been withdrawn. The case, which had garnered much publicity for the naming of the current Pontiff in relation to his duties at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the…
Vatican reject corruption charge
The Vatican has rejected allegations of corruption in its awarding of contracts which were made by a leading cleric who is now papal nuncio to the United States. The move comes in response to the publishing, in the Italian press, of two letters penned in 2011 by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, at the time the…
Not yet Cuba libre
The Pope visits Cuba in March. Paul Keenan examines the island nation’s recent record. What to believe about Cuba? Since the ‘retirement’ of Fidel Castro, the island nation’s leader of 47 years in favour of baby brother Raul in 2008, it was tempting to believe that the change of regime — albeit kept…
Tears of joy in Malawi – Paul Keenan
Paul Keenan reports on a Christian charity helping those in need to help themselves If there is an illustration that best serves the guiding principles of the Tearfund charity, it is offered from the personal experience of their CEO, Reuben Coulter. Just returned from Malawi, where he was overseeing ongoing Tearfund projects, Reuben…
World Report
Spain: Spain to reverse abortion legislation The new Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy has pledged to reverse abortion legislation introduced by the previous administration. In an announcement by Minister of Justice Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, the ruling Spanish People’s Party looks set to enact greater restrictions on the availability of abortion. The move would specifically target current…
In a constant state of war
Ahead of the Pope’s official visit to Mexico, Paul Keenan examines the country’s ongoing struggle against drug violence. Whether Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago’s appeal for a period of peace during Pope Benedict’s March visit to Mexico (see Page 19) will be acknowledged by the violent criminal fraternity there remains to be seen. The…
Communities united in trawler tragedy
The Catholic priest ministering to the bereaved of the Union Hall tragedy in Cork has spoken of the overwhelming ”spirit of unity” that has marked the community’s response to the loss of the trawler Tit Bonhomme with five lives. Speaking to The Irish Catholic from the quayside as the search for the last two…
Vatican approval bring Neocatechumenal joy
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way in Ireland are celebrating the endorsement of their apostolic outreach by Pope Benedict XVI. At a January 20 meeting with the Way in Rome, Pope Benedict approved the special celebrations that the Neocatechumenate organises for its small communities and praised the lay movement’s ”firm commitment to proclaim the Gospel…