This week marks the centennial of the Easter Rising – the armed insurrection that would trigger nationalist Ireland’s final battle for independence from Great Britain. The first of July will mark another centennial, that of the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in human history, in which over 3,500 Irish soldiers were Read more
A proposal to develop and support lay-led liturgies has received strong support at the first synod to be held in Ireland in half a century. A three-day diocesan synod in Limerick was attended by 400 delegates. More than 90 per cent of delegates backed the lay-led liturgies proposal. At the synod, Fr Eugene Duffy, a lecturer Read more
A call has been made for Rome to allow priests silenced for expressing unorthodox views to return to full ministry as part of the Year of Mercy. The annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland this week heard that six of their members had faced sanctions for their views. Among their number Read more
Ireland’s national television station is to drop the Angelus after 53 years, replacing it with videos reflecting “people of all faiths and none”. The Angelus is broadcast daily on RTÉ television at 12pm and at 6pm. It traditionally offers a silent image of the Virgin Mary to allow viewers the time to pray, followed by Read more
Twelve priests in Ireland have issued a statement calling for an open discussion on equality for women in the Church, including in ministry. “Discriminating against women encourages and reinforces abuse and violence against women in many cultures and societies,” they said. Some of the 12 have been prominent members of the reformist Association of Catholic Priests in Read more
Actor Liam Neeson has been slammed for his part in an “anti-Catholic” campaign by Amnesty International calling for abortion decriminalisation in Ireland. The campaign features a short film made by “Father Ted” creator Graham Lineham and his wife. The film called ‘Chains’ criticises the Eighth Amendment to Ireland’s constitution, which makes it almost impossible for a woman to Read more
During this month’s synod on the family, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will speak to Pope Francis about a possible papal visit to Ireland in 2018. Speculation is growing about a papal visit after it was announced that the next World Meeting of Families would be in Dublin in 2018. Archbishop Martin said Francis is Read more
A spokesman for a priests’ association in Ireland has warned that bringing overseas priests in to plug vocations gaps could empty Irish churches. Fr Brendan Hoban of the Association of Catholic Priests said that there is a risk that old fashioned pastoral approaches by overseas priests could empty some Irish parishes in a decade. Two Nigerian priests have Read more
The papal nuncio to Ireland has said he is unable to confirm or deny stories about Irish priests refusing invitations to become bishops. In a lengthy interview in the Irish Times, Archbishop Charles Brown said this was because “when the Pope asks someone to be a bishop, it’s a very personal invitation”. None of the Read more
Dublin’s archbishop is worried that some Catholics are retreating from dialogue with the present into the false security of imaginary better times. In a speech, Archbishop Dairmuid Martin said while the Church in Ireland would never be what it was 20 or even 10 years ago, things were improving. “But the moment I say that Read more