Cardinal George Pell has warned lay people against fleeing from the world and becoming preoccupied with church services and tasks of the priesthood. Speaking in Ireland, the cardinal said the so-called culture wars “are entering a new phase of political struggle which can only be fought by laypeople”. He urged young people to get involved Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Ireland’
Irish bishops back seminarians deemed too conservative
Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Several Irish bishops have reportedly intervened after seminarians were allegedly asked to leave their studies because they were too conservative. The Irish Catholic understands that out of 10 diocesan seminarians from Maynooth due to return at the end of their pastoral year, six were recommended to take “time out”. But the newspaper pointed to claims Read more
Irish bishop calls for serious look at married priests
Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
An Irish bishop wants his fellow bishops to set up a body to look at the possibility of ordaining married men to the priesthood. Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore has urged his colleagues to arrange a commission to this end. Bishop O’Reilly also wants such a commission to study the possibility of female deacons. He will raise the Read more
The Church’s loss of influence in Ireland
Tuesday, June 9th, 2015
You wouldn’t expect this from the 71-year-old gay leader of the successful campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Ireland. But scholar, senator, and civil rights activist David Norris not only calls Pope Francis a “terrific beacon of hope around the world,” he also bemoans the Catholic Church’s dwindling influence in his homeland. I’d call that Read more
DVD on marriage teaching to go to all UK and Ireland priests
Friday, June 5th, 2015Every priest and parish in Britain and Ireland is to receive a DVD defending Catholic teaching on marriage, the family and sexuality. The DVD comes from the British Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in collaboration with St Anthony Communications, which specialises in catechetical video presentations. It has been launched as the Church prepares for the synod Read more
How same-sex marriage won the vote in Ireland
Friday, May 29th, 2015
Ireland, once dubbed “the most Catholic country in the world” by the future Pope Paul VI, has become the first country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage by means of a popular vote. For months, opinion polls had been consistent is showing huge levels of support for the constitutional amendment to re-define marriage. On Read more
Church needs reality check in wake of Ireland referendum
Tuesday, May 26th, 2015
The Catholic Church in Ireland needs a “reality check”, the Archbishop of Dublin said, in the wake of an overwhelming referendum vote for same-sex marriage. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin also said the Church needs to ask itself if it has drifted away from young people. In the referendum on May 22, voters were asked if they Read more
Former Irish president says her devout gay son was bullied
Friday, May 22nd, 2015
Ireland’s former president, Mary McAleese, has spoken of her son as a devout young Catholic who was made to feel lonely and was bullied because he was gay. Mrs McAleese said her son Justin was a “willing and happy” altar boy and an enthusiastic member of his local Catholic youth club. But he went through Read more
- Priests are bucking Catholic Church leadership to support same-sex marriage in Ireland
- Ireland’s gay marriage referendum a sign of Roman Catholic decline
- Northern Ireland bakers guilty of discrimination over gay marriage cake
- LGBT ministering organisations await news on exhibit space at World Meeting of Families
- US archdiocese blocks LGBT Catholic youth summit
- Catholic conference on homosexuality to help educators, students
Irish bishops to fund help for children of priests
Tuesday, May 19th, 2015
Ireland’s Catholic bishops have agreed to provide funds for any counselling required by clients of a support group for children of priests. Irish-based Coping International was assured by the bishops that this support would be forthcoming. The bishops made this decision at their autumn meeting in October last year. The therapy would be provided through Read more
Value gay people’s relationships, leave marriage be: Prelate
Friday, May 8th, 2015
The Archbishop of Dublin says society could cherish gay people’s rights and relationships, while respecting the uniqueness of the male-female relationship. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was speaking to a group of diocesan communications officers, ahead of Ireland’s referendum on legal same-sex marriage on May 22. “There can be an ethic of equality which is an ethic Read more