Retired bishop Colm O’Reilly has denied claims that he swore a man who says he was Ann Lovett’s boyfriend to silence regarding letters she allegedly left behind. The reaction came after a 51-year-old man told the Irish Times that he was her former boyfriend. Ann died after giving birth to a stillborn boy at a…

A leading Irish charity has called on the government to take urgent measures to ensure that no one over the age of 65 is homeless. Focus Ireland has launched the online petition after the latest figures from the Department of Housing showed that there were 119 people over 65 years old living in emergency accommodation…

A new Government natality initiative to increase birth rates to curb the increasing economic demands resulting from Ireland’s ageing population has been criticised as being ‘inconsistent’ with the removal of the Eighth Amendment, a pro-life group has said. The initiative, led by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, plans to look at ways of encouraging families…

Catholic officials in El Salvador expressed outrage and sadness after the assassination of a 31-year-old priest during Holy Week, in what some suspect may be a gang killing. Authorities said Fr Walter Vasquez Jimenez was traveling with parishioners to officiate a Holy Thursday Mass in San Miguel when their car was stopped by an armed…

Ash Wednesday burns mystery explained An investigation has ruled out sabotage as the cause of skin rashes from ashes used during an Ash Wednesday ritual in the Philippines last week. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said the “mystery burns” people had on their foreheads after the ashes were administered in Manila Diocese were caused by acid.…

Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Primate of Ireland, has praised the late Peter Sutherland for his support and advice to Church institutions, and his work on behalf of migrants and refugees. “He was a man of deep faith and a devoted Catholic but also one who was critical when necessary,” he said. “He worked to ensure…

An Oxford University pro-life group has expressed dismay at “a deliberate attempt to shut down discussion and dialogue” during a talk by Irish Catholic columnist Breda O’Brien (pictured) and barrister Lorcan Price. The two speakers addressed an Oxford Students for Life (OSFL) event in St John’s College on November 1, but shortly after Mrs O’Brien…

Many young people are en-route to “tragedy” owing to homelessness, according to Focus Ireland, highlighting a 98% increase since 2014 of homeless people aged 18-24. Sr Stan Kennedy opened the ‘Youth Homelessness in Limerick today’ event in Thomond Park Conference Centre and called for greater action to be taken in order to support the 826…

Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte has said that despite the impression given by the media, he believes that most Irish people “still hold life very precious and very dear”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic in advance of addressing the annual Ceiliuradh Cois Life dinner for pro-life education last Friday, he said that while the media…

Young adults aged between 16 and 29 are being asked to take part in a survey to gather information on youth attitudes towards faith and the Church. The ‘Big April Ask’, an online survey open until April 30, is an Irish youth ministry initiative in response to Pope Francis’ announcement that in October 2018 a…