Courtney McGrailEducation proposals ‘attack’ faith schools
A new submission to the Department of Education from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) attacks the rights and ethos of faith schools, the Iona Institute has claimed.
The institute has especially challenged the commission’s recommendation that faith schools lose their right to accommodate children of their religious community first, as one of the main purposes of such schools is to serve the faith community that established them.
Proposal
A proposal to dictate how religion is taught in faith schools is even worse, potentially distancing children from their faith, while violating the right of parents to have their children taught their faith as a living and objectively true reality, it added.
The institute’s Dr John Murray said: “The answer to the concerns raised by the IHREC is to provide greater choice of schools to parents, and where there is excess demand, more school places so no child is turned away for any reason”.
‘Walk into the Story’ of cribs
Thornhill Convent in Derry plays host to an exhibition of 100 cribs this first weekend of Advent, when on November 25-27 it unveils its “Walking into the Story’ festival to showcase cribs from across the world, including a handful from the town of Bethlehem. Thornhill Ministries hopes to welcome as many visitors as possible to enjoy a unique and colourful walk into the Christmas story.
In addition to cribs, the convent will offer a reflection corner where visitors can pause for a moment to hear the nativity narrative in poetry and prose. Singers too, will offer carols during the festival.
Festival Times: Friday 6pm-8pm, Saturday 11am-7pm Sunday 11am-5pm. School Groups by arrangement on Friday and Monday. Please phone 71351233.
Death of Bishop John O’Riordan CSSp
The Irish province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit has announced the death of Bishop John O’Riordan CSSp at the age of 92. Born in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, John O’Riordan moved to Sierra Leone in the 1950s as a newly-ordained priest where he was to spend 50 years in ministry. He became Bishop of Kenema in 1984 and was awarded Sierra Leone’s honour of Commander of the Order of the Rokel in 2001 for outstanding pastoral and humanitarian services to the people of Kenema.
Bishop O’Riordan returned to Ireland in 2002 and moved to Kimmage Manor, where he died on November 22.
Carmelite Prayer Room scoops architectural award
The Carmelite Prayer Room at Dublin’s St Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street has won a Judges Special Award at this year’s Wood Awards Ireland. The prayer room, remodelled in ash by Niall McLoughlin Architects, was noted as a space both “powerful and ephemeral” by judges who visited the room.
The judges noted also that the work had been “sensitively” completed within what is a protected structure.
St Teresa’s had been included in a shortlist of 18 for the prestigious award from over 40 original entries.
‘Flawed’ abortion petition submitted to Stormont
Christian Action Research & Education (CARE) in Northern Ireland has accused Amnesty International of using a “flawed petition” in attempting to sway the Stormont Assembly to change abortion laws in the region.
In a statement coinciding with the submission by Green Party Deputy Leader, Claire Bailey MLA, of the 45,000-strong petition, CARE pointed out: “To sign the petition there was no need to register to an address in Northern Ireland, therefore it’s entirely possible that many of the people claiming support for the changes to the law, do not live in Northern Ireland. There were also no other checks in place to ensure that people could only sign the petition once, and under their own name.”
CARE’s Northern Ireland Policy Officer Mark Baillie said: “This obviously causes significant problems as Amnesty are attempting to persuade members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to overhaul the current laws on abortion in Northern Ireland. Assembly members should be aware of the fact that there is no way to verify that the 45,000 names are indeed legitimate or have any connection to Northern Ireland.”
Delegation to bring appeal to Ireland
A delegation of Christian and Muslim leaders from Syria will arrive in Ireland this December 1 to appeal to the Dáil for its help in ending the Syrian conflict.
The group, which will also address meetings at Trinity College Dublin and participate in a silent vigil for all victms of violence, will be led by His Beatitude, Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, His Holiness, Ignatius Aphrem II of Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Grace, Dr Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Grand Mufti of Syria.
The delegation will also encourage Irish NGOs to send aid to Damascus via Trócaire/Caritas and other credible organisations.