A Canadian Archbishop has signalled that his priests will not anoint anyone seeking death by assisted suicide. According to Canadian Catholic News, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottowa, a person seeking assisted suicide ““lacks the proper disposition for the anointing of the sick”, and added: “Asking your priest to be present to something that is in...
A study of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands has revealed that most cases in the country stem from loneliness. According to The Catholic Herald, a team of US researchers from the National Institute of Health undertook a full examination of the so-called psychiatric reasons considered when a patient sought to avail of euthanasia between the...
British culture makes people of faith feel “embarrassed” about their religion, a BBC television presenter has said. As he departs his role as a presenter of The Breakfast Show after 15 years, Bill Turnbull told The Radio Times that he prefers the religious freedom enjoyed in the United States where people do not “have to...
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has addressed Ireland’s current abortion debate, stating “you cannot pretend to be a Catholic and leave aside a very important part of Catholic teaching” when choosing who to vote for in the upcoming election. Speaking on Morning Ireland yesterday following the release of a joint statement by Ireland’s four Catholic Archbishops ahead of polling day, Dr...
The Labour Party had said it wants to see Ireland introduce a UK-style abortion law as a replacement to the current constitutional ban on abortion in almost all circumstances. In Britain, almost 200,000 abortions take place annually accounting for about one pregnancy in every five. Speaking on the campaign trail, the party’s Alex White said Labour’s “overriding insistence would...
Ireland’s Archbishops have issued a joint pastoral statement on issues of concern ahead of this month’s general election. Voicing a “shared anxiety” with many in Ireland “at the fact that there is an uncertain social climate in the country regarding vital sectors of people’s lives, especially regarding health, homes, education, security, the fostering of a...
An evolutionary biologist has warned that In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) may have serious health implications in the future for the five million people born so far via IVF. In a presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington DC, Dr Pascal Gagneux warned scientists are already uncovering worrying signs. In research...
Archbishop Bishop Michael Neary of Tuam has called on voters to “place a culture of life at the centre of Election 2016”. Adding his voice to that of All Ireland Prelate Archbishop Eamon Martin and Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross and, who have issued their own recent statements on the issues of abortion...
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin diocese has said he finds it “very difficult to see how any Catholic could, in good conscience, vote for a candidate or a political party whose policy it is to legalise abortion.” He makes the comment in a statement issued to coincide with the General Election campaign. In the statement, called...
Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross has called on voters to question election hopefuls on the constitutional protection for the unborn. Amid ongoing calls to repeal the pro-life amendment to the Constitution, Bishop Buckley said in a statement at the weekend that “candidates in the election should be questioned politely but firmly not just...
