Islamic State group claims responsibility for attack on church in Turkey January 29, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the small Catholic community in Turkey after gunmen attacked a church during Sunday morning Mass Jan. 28, leaving at least one worshipper dead.
Christians’ testimony in Gaza a ‘true miracle’ amid nonstop war, says Holy Land guardian January 15, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the world marked 100 days since the Hamas militants attacks that unleashed hell in the Holy Land, images of the children from Holy Family Parish — the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip — dressed in white albs to receive the sacrament were a stark and welcome contrast in a land that has had little reason to smile since Oct. 7.
Northern Ireland parents strongly reject idea of teaching about access to abortion in schools January 12, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Almost three out of four people who responded to a public consultation have rejected a proposal by the British government that would require schools in Northern Ireland, including Catholic schools, to teach students how to access an abortion.
Relocation of Palestinians cannot be a solution to Gaza crisis, U.S. officials say January 9, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that Palestinians must not be pressured into leaving Gaza and must be allowed to return to their homes once conditions allow, Christians in the Holy Land worry the Israeli statements may threaten other small communities in the Holy Land, including theirs.
Ireland plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees December 13, 2023By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News Plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for refugees from Ukraine who flee to Ireland to avoid Russia’s war are causing anxiety, according to a priest who works with the new arrivals. Officials in Dublin say that they want to “slow” the number of people arriving from Ukraine.
Magic is not ‘harmless fun,’ priest says as British university plans occult studies program December 8, 2023By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, News, World News While at first glance an interest in magic or even the occult might look like just harmless fun, Catholics should be aware of what the church teaches about such things and the real dangers associated with what Pope Francis often refers to as “bad spirits.”
Proposed referendum for Irish Constitution calls for widening the definition of family December 6, 2023By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, World News A pro-family campaign group has warned that a proposed March referendum in Ireland to amend the country’s constitution would be a “further downgrading of the importance of marriage to society.”
Numbers of Irish Catholics are falling rapidly; only half of Dublin residents say they’re Catholic June 1, 2023By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Once a Catholic giant, Ireland is becoming less religious, census data shows. Just over half of the residents of the Irish capital, Dublin, now self-identify as Catholic, according to data released May 30 by the country’s Central Statistics Office.
On Bloody Sunday, Irish archbishop says unanswered questions slow healing January 31, 2022By Michael Kelly Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The president of the Irish bishops’ conference used the 50th anniversary of the unlawful killing of 14 unarmed Catholics by the British army in Northern Ireland to criticize the fact that no one has ever been prosecuted.
Ireland adds St. Brigid’s feast day as national holiday January 20, 2022By Michael Kelly Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News The Irish government has added a new public holiday to the national calendar to honor the country’s female patron, St. Brigid of Kildare.
Irish government to lift ban on Mass attendance May 10 April 30, 2021By Michael Kelly Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News The Irish government said a COVID-19-related ban on Catholics attending Mass will be lifted May 10.
