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Tuesday 30 May 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# Catholic

This week
28th May 2023 - 30th May 2023
Voices
Peter Flanagan: 'Confession was for sinners - why should I admit to something I didn't do?'
Writing from London, Peter Flanagan says that in England, religion is a lifestyle choice.
Last year
2022
# Father Séan Sheehy
Influential priest says LGBT Catholics are 'as much a part of the Church' as the pope
Father James Martin made the remarks following a controversial homily by Father Séan Sheehy in Kerry.
# Marnie
The Irish international who quit to become a priest and anti-Apartheid protestor
Marnie Cunningham’s fascinating story is told in a new book called ‘Rugby’s Greatest Mavericks.’
All time
# Catholic Church
Dublin Archdiocese 'committed to protecting children' despite halving staff at safeguarding service
Five people have been let go from the unit, as part of a wider redundancy programme in the Archdiocese.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you think RTÉ should stop playing the Angelus?
The Angelus is a Catholic reflection aired twice a day on RTÉ.
# archbishop eamon martin
Calls for younger Catholic volunteers to help start Masses in churches again
Archbishop Eamon Martin said that the reopening of churches will happen “slowly and tentatively”.
# irish events
'Untold damage could be done': Talks by US chastity speaker cancelled amid criticism
Jason Evert has described homosexuality as a disorder and is critical of contraception.
# Sexual Abuse
Two priests who sexually abused deaf children each sentenced to over 40 years in prison in Argentina
The victims were children and adolescents aged between four and 17.
# Chiapas
At least 21 people killed as bus carrying Catholic pilgrims crashes in Mexico
Thirty others were injured in the incident.
Voices
Opinion: A variety of non-Christian historical sources support the idea that Jesus rose from the dead
The eyewitnesses to the resurrection were willing to die for their faith – but who would die for a lie, writes Thomas Finegan.
Voices
Catholic in 2019: 'Some cardinals and clerics appear trapped within a medieval mindset - but Pope Francis provides a glimmer of hope'
‘We can all help to change the outdated teachings, traditions and structures which repel many adults and young people,’ writes Joe Mulvaney.
# sex abuse scandals
Ex-pope Benedict XVI blames clerical sex abuse on 1960s sexual revolution
Benedict has written a 6,000-word essay for Klerusblatt, a German monthly magazine for clergy.
# New Zealand
Diarmuid Martin expresses concern over 'anti-Islamic sentiments being expressed in social media in Ireland'
Martin said that some of this anti-Islamic sentiment came from publications “purporting to be of Catholic inspiration”.
# Sex Abuse
Top Catholic cardinal admits Church files on sex abuse were 'destroyed'
The cardinal was speaking at a landmark Vatican summit on tackling sex abuse in the clergy.
# Pope
Pope admits that priests and bishops sexually abused nuns
His admission followed a rare outcry last week from the Vatican’s women’s magazine over the sexual abuse of nuns.
# overhaul
External agencies providing sex ed in schools to be regulated in recommended radical overhaul
A report launching today calls for a radical overhaul of how sex education is taught in both primary and secondary schools.
# Washington
US diocese apologises after students mock Native American demonstrator
“I heard them saying, ‘Build that wall, build that wall.’ We’re not supposed to have walls here, we never did.”
# Education
Almost 4% increase in children enrolled in multi-denominational schools
Education Minister Joe McHugh said the figures reflect the changes taking place in the patronage of Irish schools.
Voices
Fr Richard Gibbons: 'When was the last time you did something truly selfless for someone else, even if they didn’t deserve it?'
Fr Gibbons – of Knock – writes about finding the true meaning of Christmas even when things feel hard.
# redundancies
Religious books and gifts company Veritas to close 3 retail stores across the country
It is not yet known how many jobs will be lost.
# Blasphemy
Who is Asia Bibi and why has her case sparked furious protests?
There have been calls for the Pakistani woman to be offered asylum, including in Ireland.
# Belgium
Vatican stalls on Belgium bishops' suggestion to allow young married men to become priests
The suggestion of easing the rules on celibacy was raised by the Auxiliary Bishop of Brussels.
# Donald Wuerl
US cardinal facing calls to resign cancels appearance at World Meeting of Families
Donald Wuerl was due to speak on Wednesday.
# Papal Visit
Half a million have signed up to see the Pope - but how Catholic is Ireland?
Pope Francis will be in Ireland for two days, 25 and 26 August, as part of the World Meeting of Families event.
Voices
Opinion: 'Parents need to raise their voices in the divestment debate'
Single-faith religious instruction and all sacramental preparation needs to be parish-based and conducted outside of school hours, writes Peter Gunning.
# South Carolina
A Baptist church is getting rid of its statue of Jesus because it's 'too Catholic'
The statue has been outside the church for 10 years.
# Good Friday
Devotees nail themselves to crosses at annual Good Friday ceremony in Philippines
The event is frowned upon by the Catholic Church.
# rise in humanism
Number of Roman Catholic marriages reducing but it's still the most popular type of ceremony
The average age of grooms in Ireland is 36, while the average age of brides is 34.
# Same-Sex Couples
Priests' group calls for statement from Archbishop after welcome to gay parents removed from church video
The welcome was was removed from a video supporting the World Meeting of Families.
# growing up catholic
17 things you'll only know if you grew in a super Catholic household
When
# Catholic Church
Priests say Mary McAleese being banned from Vatican conference is 'embarrassing'
The inclusion of McAleese on the Voices of Faith speaker panel was opposed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
# Your Say
Poll: Would you like to attend the Pope's mass in Ireland?
Pope Francis is set to visit the country next year.
# rohingya crisis
Pope Francis arrives in Myanmar on high-stakes visit
He is expected to address claims of ethnic cleansing in the region.
# Your Say
Poll: Should the Angelus be scrapped?
Some people think it’s not appropriate in modern Ireland.
# islamic state
Philippines kills 10 of its own soldiers in airstrike meant to hit ISIS
Security forces have been battling militants in Marawi, a major Muslim city in the predominantly Catholic country.
# Distraction
Philippine authorities ban hanging rosary beads off car dashboards
“With these religious images, drivers feel they are safer, that there is divine intervention and they are being guided and protected.”
Voices
Divided Ireland: 'One side dedicated to making Ireland secular; another preserving Church's influence'
There is a profound, far-reaching division in Irish society, writes Larry Donnelly.
# Italy
Mafia clan and Catholic group busted in migrant scandal
The Arena clan, a family belonging to a powerful crime syndicate, allegedly syphoned off money from the state destined for migrants.
# Faith
Ireland's first ever beatification to take place in Dublin this morning
The ceremony will make a formal request for the beatification of Dublin man Fr John Sullivan, who died in 1933.
# Sisters of Charity
Bishop says new maternity hospital should obey rules of Catholic Church
Health Minister Simon Harris has insisted the hospital will be independently run.