How Donald Tusk’s government is changing Poland at high speed
Stefan Meetschen (KNA) Restructuring of the public media, school lessons without homework, four drafts for a more liberal abortion law – since the majority of Poles voted for a change of policy last October, the centre-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Civic Platform, part of the Civic Coalition electoral alliance) has been doing […]
PSNI culture criticised
The Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland has highlighted a damning report examining the culture in the PSNI which found that many officers believe there is a two-tier disciplinary system. The ‘audit of organisational culture’, also found there was a perception of “a growing environment of fear” with officers worried about serious consequences for small […]
Spate of church robberies continues as cathedral targeted during funeral
The latest in a series of recent church burglaries took place in Donegal on Sunday after a man broke into the sacristy of St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny and is alleged to have stolen €1,754.55 and £6.13 respectively while a funeral Mass was ongoing. The theft forms part of the recent pattern of attacks on […]
Singing star Malachi Cush joins SVP as ambassador
Acclaimed Co. Tyrone singer songwriter Malachi Cush has been announced Ambassador for the Northern Region of St Vincent de Paul. Commenting on his new role, Malachi said: “I am deeply honoured to have been chosen as Ambassador for St Vincent de Paul. For so many years, this charity has had a remarkable impact on the […]
The Pope’s downsizing is about pruning to grow
Ecclesiastical structures are only useful if they allow our parishes to be vibrant places where people encounter God, writes Michael Kelly While all eyes were on the cabinet reshuffle of Taoiseach Simon Harris, officials in Rome were preparing to announce details of the Pope’s reshuffle of sorts of the Irish ecclesiastical landscape. While Ireland has… […]
Western dioceses warn that a lack of resources is hindering synodal outreach
A lack of resources is “hindering” synodal outreach to young people, those on the margins and others, a new submission from two Western dioceses has warned. While there is a general desire to be a more welcoming Church, in a new synodal submission, the dioceses of Clonfert and Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora have said a […]
Anger over RTÉ’s ‘new low’ abortion coverage
An RTÉ Investigates programme on Ireland’s abortion laws made a “total mockery” of public service broadcasting and has left many pro life supporters angry, says the Pro Life Campaign (PLC). The Pro Life Campaign called for a special Oireachtas committee to examine RTÉ’s editorial bias following the “highly partisan” documentary that aired on Monday night. […]
Mixed feelings after largest diocesan shake up for 900 years
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady There are mixed feelings in the West after Pope Francis announced the effective merger of four dioceses in the archdiocese of Tuam, the largest diocesan shake up in Ireland since 1111AD. The diocese of Killala and Tuam will now be headed by one bishop, Archbishop Francis Duffy, while Bishop Kevin […]
Dublin diocese divests Catholic primary school
Dublin diocese has announced the divestment of St Mary’s Primary School, Dorset Street, Dublin 7, which has transferred to secular patronage. As of April 15, St Mary’s will be under the patronage of the Education Training Board (ETB). The primary school was one of 29 schools involved in a pilot consultation process in the diocese […]
‘FaithBlock’: Social media giant restricts IC posts
Social media behemoth Facebook has restricted two of The Irish Catholic’s posts citing they are suspected of breaching ‘hate speech’ and ‘violence and incitement’ community standards respectively. The first post linking an article with the headline ‘Priest will continue blessing planes despite airport ban’, which was published on April 11, was flagged for potentially going […]