Letter of the Week Highest honour bestowed on Dana Dear Editor, News that Ireland’s first Eurovision Song Contest winner in 1970 and former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon has been conferred with a Papal honour, in recognition for services rendered to the Catholic Church, is cause to rejoice. Dana who regularly appears on EWTN, wrote and…
The Confession Box – Episode 19
How to answer your child’s difficult God questions In the latest episode of The Confession Box, we speak with Julianne Stanz about faith and children’s faith formation – what would you say to a 7 year old if they ask you what’s the closest planet to heaven? Julianne is the author of ‘The Catholic Parents…
Eurovision winner Dana honoured with papal award
Former MEP and 1970 Eurovision winner Dana has been awarded the Order of St Gregory by Pope Francis in recognition of her services to the Church. Dana became a Dame of the Order of St Gregory at a ceremony at her parish church in Claregalway, Co. Galway, surrounded by family and friends. She thanked Bishop Michael Duignan, Bishop of…
‘No pension priest’ to challenge religious order over stamps
A returned missionary priest who doesn’t qualify for a state pension is to speak with his religious order, the Society of African Missions (SMA) to find out why apparently no stamps were paid on his behalf while he was a missionary in Ghana for 31 years, which he claims was a paid employment where he…
NFL player criticises Catholic leaders for lack of leadership in speech
Kansas City Chiefs’ placekicker Harrison Butker offered some pointed criticism of Catholic bishops and priests along with advice to college graduates in his commencement address at Benedictine College on Saturday. Catholic bishops should be more like St Damien of Molokai and less concerned about what civil and cultural leaders think about them, the three-time Super…
Director on new film and powerful conversion: Mother Teresa ‘was sent there for me’
“Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” is a new film that takes viewers on a journey to rediscover the importance of the Eucharist. Through dialogue with notable Catholic figures who explore the biblical origins of the Eucharist and share personal stories, one of the film’s producers, Jim Wahlberg, said he hopes to revive faith…
Top Congo cardinal plays down church/state crisis
Amid what threatened to become a serious church/state situation in Africa’s largest Catholic country, a cardinal threatened with prosecution for sedition in the Democratic Republic of Congo met May 16 with the country’s president and afterward attributed the tensions to “misunderstandings”. “There has been more misunderstanding than a real problem,” said Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of…
US court says parents have no right to opt out of LGBTQ curriculum
A federal appeals court ruled that parents in Maryland have no right to be informed when their children are being instructed with LGBTQ materials or to opt their children out of that instruction. The legal advocacy group Becket Law, which is representing the parents challenging the Montgomery County Board of Education, said that the 4th Circuit Court…
The lone rangers of Dublin diocese
Dublin’s Archbishop Dermot Farrell turns 70 later this year. At a time when most of his friends and contemporaries have been retired for several years, he continues to lead the country’s most populous diocese – and arguably the Irish diocese facing the greatest challenges. Soon, Dublin will have twice as many auxiliary bishops – Bishop…
Not to sound sanctimonious, but….
Letter of the week Not to sound sanctimonious, but…. Dear Editor, As communities enjoy the season of welcoming the children who have reached the age of reason to the table, and celebrate their young people answering an invitation to step forward either for Confirmation, or to be blessed, I wonder if, in our talk of…