Former Taoiseach John Bruton has said that a citizens’ assembly to examine the issue of abortion in Ireland is no substitute for the Oireachtas in making a decision about such a controversial topic. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper in the wake of the announcement by Taoiseach Enda Kenny that he will reconvene the constitutional convention...
A proposal by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan to abolish Rule 68 of the Rules for National Schools, which protects the status of religion in schools, has been criticised by the Iona Institute as “yet another attack on the rights of faith schools”. “A faith school has a right to have a faith-based ethos,” Mr Quinn said....
The US technology giant Microsoft has released a Christmas advert in which references to God in a popular song have been removed. According to The Christian Post, the company chose the song ‘Let There be Peace on Earth’ to feature in its advert portraying employees and a children’s choir giving a festive rendition. However, the...
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has criticised the tone of debate around the divestment of schools in the primary sector, insisting that “Catholic education is not poison, as one might sometimes get the impression from certain debates.” Delivering a homily at the Pro-Cathedral for the annual Schools Mass, Dr Martin, a supporter of greater choice in the...
The President of the European Parliament (EP) has said Europe must not continue to ignore the persecution of Christians, “clearly the most persecuted group” in the world today. President Martin Schulz made his comments during a high-level meeting in Brussels convened specifically to discuss the plight of Christian communities and ways of tackling anti-Christian persecution. “I...
Bishop Kevin Doran has accused the Government of being “incapable of principle” over the question of the right to life of the unborn. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper after Taoiseach Enda Kenny revealed he would put the question of repealing the Constitutional 8th Amendment protection for the unborn to a citizens’ convention, Bishop Doran...
The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference has reasserted the right to life at all stages following Northern Ireland’s recent ruling on abortion. Having discussed, during their quarterly meeting this week, the ruling by Belfast’s High Court for expanded provision for terminations to address what the court viewed as a breach of women’s human rights, the bishops...
Tánaiste Joan Burton has said she will support measures to make it much harder for denominational schools to give admit children of the faith of the school ahead of other children in the event of excess demand for places in their schools. At present about 20 percent of schools, mostly in Dublin, are over-enrolled. According to...
A ruling by the High Court in Belfast for r provision of abortion in Northern Ireland in case of ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ has been strongly criticised by pro-life groups and by the Catholic bishops of Northern Ireland. The decision will almost certainly be appealed by the Northern Ireland Attorney General. Following the ruling, in favour...
The growth of cohabitation in Britain has led to a decrease in the numbers divorcing, latest statistics suggest. One reason appears to be that many couples who would have previously married are now cohabiting instead and this is reducing the numbers who are divorcing. According to The Daily Telegraph, new figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)...
