Poland – The Catholic bishops of the country has offered an official apology for the abuse of children by predatory clerics. Insisting that the modern Church has made progress in ensuring the safety of children, the bishops stated: “We apologise for those clergy who have harmed children and are doing everything in our power so…

Vulnerable young people and the elderly will suffer due to Budget 2014, charitable groups working at the coal face have warned. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan this week announced dramatic restrictions on medical cards, cuts to telephone allowances for the elderly and increased prescription charges. The Government also announced fresh cuts to social welfare rates…

Syria – For the second time in as many weeks, there has been a claim that missing Jesuit Fr Paolo Dall’Oglio is alive. Khalaf Ali Khalaf, described as a reporter and opposition activist has insisted that the priest is alive and well, though he also reported that the Jesuit is in the hands of kidnappers.…

Spain – The Church has beatified 522 martyrs who lost their lives during the countryís civil war. The event took place on October 13 in the eastern city of Tarragona and involved the elevations of 515 Spaniards, three French, and a citizen from Cuba, Colombia, the Philippines and Portugal. Several thousand priests, monks and nuns…

Syria – There has been a fresh claim from within the country that the missing Jesuit priest, Fr Paolo Dall’Oglio is still alive. According to BosNewsLife, Christians who are working locally to find the priest who went missing on July 29, insist that he is alive, though no further details were offered by way of…

Recent research shows only 34% of adults in Ireland have made a will

Kenya – A Muslim cleric has been shot dead in an attack apparently linked to the September massacre by the al Shabab group in the Westgate mall in Nairobi. Sheikh Ibrahim Omar was targeted as he drove with four others through the city of Mombasa on October 3. Only one person survived the attack. Police…

Recent research shows only 34% of adults in Ireland have made a will

Priest shortage affecting parishes nationwide

India – A Catholic bishop has vowed to appeal the sentences handed down to seven Christians linked to a killing which sparked the deadly Orissa pogrom of 2008. On October 3, a court in the state sentenced those convicted to life, despite a lack of evidence against them and a claim from a Maoist group…