Seoul-searching: Irish missionary laments South Korea’s vanishing children
Fewer children, shuttered schools and universities and the promotion of pet ownership over and above the formation of families are but a few effects of South Korea’s plunging childbirth rate, according to Seoul-based Irish Columban, Fr Donal O’Keeffe. This comes even as Irish birthrates continue to fall, well below the replacement level 2.1 children per […]
Church must invest in lay infrastructure
Over the weekend, Pope Francis announced the dates for the second round of the synod later this year. Bishops, clergy, religious and laity will descend on Rome from October 2 to 27 to consider once more how we can foster a co-responsible Church. ‘Co-responsible’ is a word that reeks of business-ese, but it points to… […]
Govt forgetting people with disabilities
No progress has been made on substantive areas of disability rights, writes Dualta Roughneen On Wednesday January 24 this year, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters launched its report, ‘Towards harmonisation of national legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’. The findings are stark. It is as if […]
Younger men and women are increasingly divided by politics
Instead of trying to ‘fix’ young men, maybe it’s time we gave them a break and listened to them, writes Michael Kelly Back in the innocent days of the 1990s, when there were only two sexes, US-based relationship counsellor John Gray wrote a best-selling book to try to help couples understand one another better and… […]
LA remembers slain Irish bishop one year on
The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Irish priests and many of those who knew and worked with the late Irish Bishop David O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles who was shot dead on February 18, 2023, have paid tribute to his memory ahead of a memorial mass on Saturday February 24 to mark the first anniversary of his… […]
‘Frightening’ drug paraphernalia found at Belfast cathedral
Children as young as seven are being exposed to “frightening” drugs and drug paraphernalia on the grounds of a Belfast cathedral due to the activity of addicts in the area, a local youth leader has warned. Parents were warned that needles, tablets and other substances were found on the grounds of St Peter’s Cathedral, near […]
Legal minefield awaits ‘durable relationships’ referendum
It is as if the Govt doesn’t really care about marriage, writes David Quinn The referendums on the family and on care are closing in fast. They are to take place on Friday, March 8. There has not been much of a debate so far, not compared with the 2015 referendum on marriage, much less… […]
Veritas’ closure not a surprise
It came as a shock to many loyal customers when Veritas announced it is winding down by the end of the year, closing its seven stores nationwide and its three warehouses. The news is a big blow for its 80 staff, as well many Catholics who turned to it for religious books, gifts and educational… […]
Super Bowl Star Harrison Butker Gives Jersey to Catholic Mother Killed at Super Bowl Victory Parade
On Feb. 14, the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl victory with a parade in Kansas City, Mo. However, the parade ended in sorrow for at least 22 people, including a Catholic family who lost their mother. Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 43-year-old Catholic wife and mother of two children, died after shooters opened fire during […]
Secrets of the Saints: The Forgotten Spiritual Power of Fasting
Fasting is a pillar of the Lenten season and a powerful spiritual discipline recommended by Our Lord Jesus Christ in scripture. Many saints also practiced it! Fasting, or the intentional abstinence of food for a period of time, is hugely counter-cultural. In a culture where physical pleasure is the highest good, why intentionally withhold something […]