Did you know that Ireland boasts four Nobel laureates and five Booker Prize winners? From literary giants like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett to contemporary authors like Colm Tóibín and Sally Rooney, Irish writers have made a significant impact. It’s quite impressive for a country with a population of just 5 million. One might wonder Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Ireland’
Sinful sermon lands priest in hot water
Monday, November 7th, 2022
An Irish Catholic priest has been reprimanded by his bishop for a sermon on sin, homosexuality, promiscuity, abortion and the ‘lunatic approach of transgenderism. “We rarely hear about sin, but it’s rampant, it’s rampant. “We see it in the promotion of abortion. .. in this lunatic approach of transgenderism,… in the promotion of sex between Read more
How Queen Elizabeth put forgiveness into action
Monday, September 12th, 2022
At precisely noon on May 17, 2011, the 85-year-old daughter of the last king of Ireland touched down at Casement Aerodrome, a military airfield southwest of Dublin. For the first time in a century, a reigning British monarch set foot in what is now the Republic of Ireland but for centuries had been the impoverished Read more
Ireland’s synod report reveals a country that is largely ‘suspicious’ and ‘intolerant’ of its Catholic inheritance
Monday, September 5th, 2022
August can often be a quiet time in the news and opinion cycle. But the quiet was disturbed this year in Ireland with the publication on Aug. 16 of the synthesis document for Ireland’s contribution to the universal synod on synodality. The Irish Times, Ireland’s premier newspaper, led with the news on Aug. 17, proclaiming Read more
Need for Catholic Church change evident to ‘anyone with two eyes in their head’
Thursday, August 18th, 2022
The report synthesising Ireland’s feedback on the synod on synodality is very clear. “Anyone with two eyes in their head can see that renewal in our church is clearly and urgently necessary. “The challenge is to find the good way of renewal,” says Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell. The Catholic Church in Ireland and across Read more
Pro-life rally attracts thousands in Dublin city centre
Monday, July 4th, 2022Several thousand people gathered in Dublin city centre on Saturday for a pro-life rally. The crowds assembled at Parnell Square at lunchtime, before marching down O’Connell Street and onto Custom House Quay. The Rally For Life was the first in-person march to be held since 2019 because of Covid restrictions. Organisers said the chief aim Read more
Moving Church from maintenance to mission
Monday, June 27th, 2022
The Catholic Church in Ireland is “moving from maintenance to mission” and needs to renew and refresh itself, Archbishop Eamon Martin says. Martin made the comment after attending Ireland’s national pre-synodal assembly this week. “The question is — what next? “We are still not entirely certain, but we are open to what the Holy Spirit Read more
The wearing of the blue on St Patrick’s day
Thursday, March 17th, 2022Wearing green has become a staple of St Patrick’s Day but Saint Patrick’s colour was blue, not green, say historians. The hue — St Patrick’s blue, a lighter shade — can still be seen on ancient Irish flags. But the use of green on St. Patrick’s Day began during the 1798 Irish Rebellion when the Read more
Bishops urged not to resume confirmation and first communion ceremonies
Thursday, August 5th, 2021
A diverse group including Ireland’s Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, a clerical abuse survivor and the co-founders of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) are urging Catholic bishops not to resume confirmation and first communion ceremonies. “When you’re dealing with a deadly virus, ultimately what you’re doing is putting people’s lives at risk,” Donnelly says. Clerical Read more
Irish Catholic dioceses defy govt’s no baptism, confirmation, communion rule
Monday, August 2nd, 2021
Several Irish Catholic dioceses are defying a government ban on celebrating sacraments of initiation. They are planning to hold the ceremonies from mid-August. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin says after consulting with clergy, baptisms, First Holy Communions and confirmation ceremonies will be held. The regulations for general religious services will be followed. “The mission of Read more