There have been 412 same-sex marriages in Ireland in the year since the passage of the marriage referendum one year ago. Of these, 223 were pre-existing Civil Partnerships. Figures released by the Department of Social Protection show that all but one county – Clare – registered at least one same-sex marriage. Dublin recorded just over half of all marriages, with 43 in Cork, 25 in Limerick and 17 in Wicklow.
Irish doctors too readily accept negative perspectives on Church involvement in healthcare, a leading member of the Irish Medical Council (IMC) has said. Quoted in The Irish Catholic newspaper, Dr Ruairi Hanley, commenting on media coverage of the governance conflict between the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital, said some of his younger colleagues “rarely miss a trick when it comes to denouncing Catholicism via Twitter” while “many GPs seemingly prefer the official narrative of the violent Christian Brother and the sadistic guardians of the Magdalene Laundries”. Dr Hanley went on to praise the role played in healthcare by the Church which “deserves better than to be routinely condemned for its very existence”.
Hopes for the establishment of five new Catholic schools have been raised with confirmation that one Catholic schools trust is applying for patronage next year and in 2018. CEIST, a Catholic schools trust founded by five religious orders, confirmed to The Irish Catholic newspaper that it is making applications for five of nine proposed schools. The trust is already patron to 110 primary schools in Ireland. Dr Marie Griffin, CEO of CEIST, described the potential of taking on the new schools as “a wonderful challenge”.
The Obama administration has threatened hospitals across America with the loss of federal funding and possible legal action unless they provide for abortions and ‘gender transitions’. Citing a drive for ‘equity’, the Department of Health and Human Services published an update to the so-called Obamacare mandate on health facilities, stating that unless complied with, funds would be discontinued while facilities could find themselves referred to the Department of Justice. The Family Research Council condemned the threat, stating: “This intolerant and unjust rule, in turn, threatens to force health care providers to participate in and perform services that substantially violate their consciences.”
Unborn babies with Down Syndrome accounted for 40 abortions sought by 3,400 Irish women who travelled to Britain for terminations last year, new figures have shown. Released by the country’s Department of Health, the figures reveal that Down Syndrome abortions were granted on the basis that such babies were at risk of serious disability. Of 135 women citing potential disability or foetal abnormality in seeking abortion, nine terminations were carried out after a spina bifida diagnosis and one for cystic fibrosis.
A family court hearing has been told that both a primary teacher and principal expressed concern over the transgender process being undertaken by a pupil at the school. According to testimony from a social worker dealing with the case of the young pupil who wishes to identify as a girl, and whose father has already declared himself to be a woman, the school authorities previously approached the Child and Family Agency to express their concerns about the reasons cited by the pupil believing himself to be transgender. The social worker acknowledged that “this area needs further investigation”.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot fine a congregation of nuns which refuses to offer contraception and abortion as part of mandatory insurance packages to employees. The nuns had taken their case as a result of a US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) that requires all employer health plans to provide free contraceptives, sterilisations and abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of any moral or religious objections. The ruling in favour of the nuns has been described as a “game-changer” for organisations working from deeply held beliefs on issues such as abortion.
Cardinal Robert Sarah has described an “insidious war” against the family and human nature unfolding in the name of tolerance. Speaking at a gathering in Washington DC, the prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Sacraments said: “In the name of ‘tolerance,’ the Church’s teachings on marriage, sexuality and the human person are dismantled. The legalisation of same-sex marriage, the obligation to accept contraception within health care programmes, and even ‘bathroom bills’ that allow men to use the women’s restrooms and locker rooms. Should not a biological man use the men’s restroom? How simpler can that concept be?”
Persecution of Christians continues even after they escape to refugee camps in Germany, a new report has revealed. According to an Open Doors report, there have been at least 300 incidents of Christians suffering physical or sexual assault in camps in Germany, with thousands of other forms of persecution also recorded. Some have reported receiving death threats for their faith. A number of others were subjected to “punches, spitting, pushing and sexual abuse” and as many as 75% of respondents said harassment from Muslims is a “frequent” problem.
A gay man in Texas, USA, who pursued a lawsuit against a bakery for allegedly supplying him with a cake with a derogatory term for homosexuals has admitted his allegation was falsified. Jordan Brown had initiated proceedings against Whole Foods bakery after claiming that the company had written the word ‘fag’ on a birthday cake he ordered for a gay friend. However, Brown now admits “the company did nothing wrong”. Brown’s case fell apart when CCTV showed labelling on the cake box in a different place to that picture in subsequent images from a news conference.
