Paul Keenan“You were made to feel so bad about having a baby out of wedlock. I've carried the guilt inside for 50 years, without telling anybody. When I met the Pope yesterday I finally felt liberated, I no longer had to feel guilty. I hope and I believe that Pope Francis will stand beside me in my fight to help thousands of mothers and children shed light on the truth regarding their own stories.”
Philomena Lee, answering journalists’ questions on her February 5 meeting with Pope Francis in Rome.
"I will be participating in a number of other events to honour the Irish heritage of this city. But I simply disagree with the organisers of that parade."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who announced on February 4, his intention to boycott the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade due to the organisers’ refusal to allow people to march with pro-gay banners.
“We believe that each of us is ‘wonderfully made’ in the image of God and we “therefore believe in the inherent dignity of every human being – dignity that no earthly power can take away. And central to that dignity is freedom of religion – the right of every person to practice their faith how they choose, to change their faith if they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do this free from persecution and fear.”
US President Barack Obama, speaking at the annual prayer breakfast in Washington DC on February 6.
“When the UN committee strays into the culture wars to promote abortion, contraceptives and gay marriage, it undermines its noble cause and trades concern for children to concern for organisations with other agendas. What a lostopportunity.”
Sr Mary Anne Walsh, Director of Media Relations for the US Catholic Conference of Bishops, reacts to the United Nations criticism of the Vatican’s child protection record.