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
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
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has called for a new rule criminalising church services to be suspended. The government introduced the rule last week in a surprise move. Archbishop Eamon Martin (pictured) says the penal provisions associated with the new regulation are “provocative” and “draconian”. They also potentially infringed religious freedom and Read more
Police in Ireland have fined a Catholic priest for celebrating public Masses during a nationwide lockdown. The Gardaí (police) fined Fr. P.J. Hughes, 500 euros (NZ$830) after he offered Masses with a small number of parishioners present. This was the second time Hughes defied the gardai’s request to lock the church’s doors when he celebrated Read more
Wearing a mask at services has been recommended by the leaders of the four main Churches in Ireland. Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin (pictured), Church of Ireland primate Archbishop John McDowell, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Rt Revd David Bruce and the Methodist Church in Ireland’s Revd Tom McKnight released a joint statement saying it is Read more
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has spoken out against recent incidents of racism in Ireland, decrying intolerance as well as narrow-minded and judgemental attitudes within Church communities. At Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday, the Archbishop said racist intolerance is always “an affront to the dignity of those who are its objects.” He said the Church must Read more
A Catholic cleric who officiated the civil union of two lesbians at a ceremony in Rome has controversially resigned from his post. On July 11, Father Emanuele Moscatelli, from the former pastor of the Church of St. Lawrence the Martyr in Sant’Oreste, presided over the wedding of two close friends identified as Beatrice, 50, and Read more
Places of worship in Ireland have been exempted from the country’s indoor gathering restrictions. The relaxation of the rules responds to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin’s concerns about the feasibility of enforcing the restrictions. Ireland’s Phase Three set a limit of 50 people for indoor gatherings and 100 people for outdoor gatherings. In Phase Four Read more
Catholics in Ireland, who deserted their churches in droves in recent years, seem ready to return in some numbers. Far be it from me to make the prediction, but I have a feeling that religion in Ireland is getting a boost from coronavirus. There could be a massive upsurge in attendance at Masses in church Read more
Priests in Ireland are preparing post-lockdown plans for their parishes so they will be ready when coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on public worship begin to ease. The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, says reopening churches for worship “has serious public health concerns and we have to make sure that we are ready for them.” One of Read more