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 […]
‘Delight’ after airport U-turn on banning plane blessings
EXCLUSIVE Dublin airport has done a one-eighty on banning the blessing of planes in news that has “delighted” the chaplain. Last week the airport announced that due to “changes in security protocols” the tradition of blessing planes ‘airside’ would be stopped, causing considerable backlash. However, Fr Des Doyle of Dublin Airport Church, Our Lady Queen […]
Preserve the sanctity of the Mass
Dear Editor, I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by Fr Barry Matthews, Fr Joe Deegan, and Fr Tom Ryan regarding online Mass [The Irish Catholic – April 11, 2024]. While livestreamed Mass has undoubtedly been a lifeline for many during times of restricted physical gathering, it is essential to recognise its limitations. The Mass […]
‘I know my sheep and they know me’
Good Shepherd Sunday Acts 4:8-12 Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 1 Jn 3:1-2 Jn 10:11-18 Throughout 2,000 years of Christian history, artistic expressions of faith can always be found. From the rustic art of the early Roman catacombs to the monumental Byzantine Romanesque basilicas to the soaring Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, […]
Irish Church’s restructuring lacks any semblance of synodality
April 10, 2024 will be noted in the annals as a significant day for the Church in the west of Ireland, because after almost 900 years the number of dioceses in the province was reduced from six to three. Two years ago, a new bishop was appointed to Galway with responsibility for the diocese of […]
RTÉ bias on abortion on full show
So many important matters were teased out in the media last week – it’s challenging to have a life and keep on top of it all! There was a telling interview on Drivetime (RTÉ Radio 1, Friday). Cormac Ó hEadhra interviewed the Iranian Ambassador and pressed him hard on Iranian support for Hamas. The surprising […]
Brazilian bishops celebrate medical council banning method of abortion
Brazil’s bishops celebrated a new resolution of the Federal Medical Council (CFM) determining that doctors cannot induce cardiac arrest on an unborn child with more than 22 weeks of pregnancy. The norm, however, is being challenged by prosecutors and legislators and may not last too long. On March 21, CFM published the resolution 2378/2024, which […]