Aid to Church in Need response to faith crisis in Ireland and across the EU

The EU religious freedom envoy is merely ‘a sop’ without proper support, according to the ACN Ireland director. Dr Michael Kinsella said the position risks becoming “all talk and no substance” without the requisite funding and staffing, a spokesperson for a charity for persecuted Christians said. The statement came after a Brussels based EU bishops’ conference criticised the envoy’s “limited mandate and resources”.

Meanwhile, the organisation has arranged for a Mass to be celebrated at a Mass Rock in each of Ireland’s 26 dioceses. June 20 marked the Feast of the Irish Martyrs. Many parishes around Ireland have local traditions of celebrating Holy Mass at Mass Rocks to this day. In a statement, ACN said “these Masses were offered from the renewal of the Faith in Ireland through the intercession of the Irish Martyrs, and that Irishmen and Irishwomen may return to the Faith of our Catholic ancestors”.