Bessborough planning row : Preserve this site - we cannot concrete over Ireland's shameful past (Opinion)

THIS MONTH, PLANNING permission was granted for a 140-bed apartment complex at Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork.

More than 900 babies are thought to have died at this site, with burial records in existence for 64.

This project’s reaching completion would cut off access to answers for those affected by this institution.

A full excavation of human remains has never been conducted. I stand in support of the Bessborough Mother and Baby ‘Home’ Support Group by opposing the building of apartments on this site.

This is a site of conscience that cannot be concreted over.

Ireland’s dark past

It is saddening to see the echoes of Ireland’s conservative past rear its ugly head with this announcement. 

I myself was born to a single mother at the time in the late eighties. 

She experienced a huge amount of stigma as a single mother in rural Ireland. I still feel it myself.

I still think a lot about the injustice that was done to her. I grew up hearing about places like Bessborough and the women who were sent there, through no choice of their own.

At the time, whether a woman decided to keep her baby as a single mother, be sent to a home, or travel to England, she could never make the right choice. It was not accepted by society because of the way we dealt with pregnancy and reproductive rights at the time.

Ireland has a shameful history of allowing institutions tied to the church to control narratives about the women in this country. 

We now owe it to the women and children incarcerated in Bessborough and in the other locations across Ireland to make sure this is never forgotten. 

We must treat these sites in accordance with the atrocities that took place at them and complete any necessary investigation.

Where are victims’ rights?

Those incarcerated and born in this institution have suffered enough without seeing history rewritten in this way. 

I know appeals will be submitted to stand against the development of the land in this way, including by my Labour colleague Cllr Peter Horgan, who has been campaigning on this issue for years.

A powerful protest took place this week outside Leinster House, and a vigil was held at the gates of Bessborough on International Women’s Day. 

These are fitting tributes to the women who lost their lives and those who were subjected to trauma and degradation as a result of these institutions. Displays of teddy bears and candles were displayed at the gates of Bessborough. 

This really hammered home to us the need to preserve this space as a place of remembrance and one that the public can access to learn about its history.

The state-sponsored oppression in these institutions is one of the largest injustices committed in the history of the Irish State. 

Redress is out of the question for many affected by Bessborough who have passed away, but those still here to advocate for themselves and to demand answers deserve the utmost respect.

Designating the site that contained this ‘home’ to a brand-new project that ignores its harrowing history is unacceptable. 

We must see other options brought to the table, such as a garden of remembrance and a historic memorial where generations to come can learn about the past.

Do the right thing

Cork has committed to becoming a trauma-informed city. That means recognising that sites like Bessborough are not just parcels of land; they are places connected to trauma, loss and memory.

Any decisions about their future must be approached with care, dignity and respect for survivors. The trauma felt behind the gates of Bessborough is beyond what many of us can comprehend. This is something that must be kept in mind when any of these decisions are tabled.

In terms of housing, we are blue in the face from making recommendations to the Government to change their approach to dereliction and bring the vacant sites in Cork City back into the hands of its residents. 

We know that within 2km of the City Centre in Cork, there are over 700 vacant and derelict sites. 

This, coupled with a renewed focus on above-the-shop residences, could alleviate the pressure of the housing emergency and bring life back to Cork City Centre.

We are seeing many great developments progress across the City and County, and I welcome this, but it would be a grave mistake to plough ahead with the current plans for the Bessborough site.

Cork City cannot afford a reality in which such a horrific part of its past is paved over for a large development. 

Housing is vital, but this is simply the wrong site. 

We have the opportunity now to treat this site and those impacted by it with the dignity and respect they deserve. 

Vatican opens beatification cause for ‘witness to charity’

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has approved the opening of the cause of beatification of Fr. Roberto Malgesini, an Italian priest known for his work with the poor in the city of Como, until his murder in 2020.

The Bishop of Como, Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, announced the news on March 21 during the diocesan Lenten retreat for young people, which was attended by Fr. Malgesini’s sister, Caterina.

Malgesini was stabbed to death by a homeless man with mental health issues as he loaded his car with breakfast items to distribute to the poor near the Church of Saint Rocco, where he served.

A statement from the diocese announcing the open cause did not specify if Malgesini is being considered under a 2017 category by which a candidate for beatification can be considered for making an “offer of life,” losing their lives in the service of charity. Shortly after his killing, Pope Francis praised the priest, calling his death a “martyrdom of this witness of charity toward the poorest.”

His killer was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Speaking on Saturday, Cardinal Cantoni called Malgesini “a man of prayer, a man of hope, a man of meekness.”

“He was not merely a philanthropist. He was first and foremost a priest, happy to be a priest, capable of seeing the face of God in everyone he met, from the children in the chapel to the poor of the city.”

Malgesini was born in the province of Sondrio in 1969, and was ordained a priest in 1998. After serving in several towns, he was appointed parish vicar of Saint Rocco in 2008, where he served until his murder.

His sister said in an interview with official Vatican media on Monday that, even though they were raised in a practicing Catholic family, his parents did not respond well to his decision to enter the seminary at the age of 23, and were concerned about his internal clarity about his priestly vocation.

“He was so convinced of his choice, but of course we were worried. He would not tell us everything, partly so as not to make us worry — he was always very discreet and reserved.”

Malgesini quickly became known for his service to the poor, bringing breakfast to all he could every morning with a group of volunteers in his Fiat Panda, which became a staple in the area.

At one point, local media reported that Malgesini was fined for distributing breakfast to the city’s homeless, allegedly breaking a measure imposed by the city council. The fine was later dismissed.

His body was found near the rectory of Saint Rocco’s church in the morning of Sept. 15, 2020, with several stab wounds, including one to the neck.

According to several testimonies, Malgesini had begun his morning distributing breakfast to the poor, and was attacked as he prepared to load more food and drinks on his car by a man who was waiting for him outside the rectory.

The man, later sentenced to 25 years in prison for Malgesini’s murder, was a homeless man from Tunisia called Ridha Mahmoudi, whom Malgesini had helped until very recently, but who suffered from mental health issues.

Days after his murder, Pope Francis said in his weekly general audience that he united himself “to the sorrow and the prayers of his relatives and to the community” of Como.

“I give praise to God for the witness, that is, for the martyrdom of this witness of charity toward the poorest,” he added.

A month after his death, Francis met with his family, calling Malgesini a priest “who does not seek the limelight but lives the Gospel in concrete terms.”

In a homily during Malgesini’s funeral, Cardinal Cantoni said that Malgesini had been “a father to the poor.”

“He gave everything for the poor, even his own blood… He was a happy man and priest because he had discovered that a way to follow Jesus was that of meeting Him in the living flesh of the poor,” he added.

“Fr. Roberto did not flee from the many crosses of his brothers and sisters. He did not make long speeches about his poor, nor did he distinguish between good and bad, between our own and foreigners, between Christians and those of other faiths… He loved to act quietly, almost in secret, in complete discretion,” he said.

Cantoni highlighted Malgesini’s joy.

“I remember Fr. Roberto as a happy priest. Happy to love Jesus by serving him in the poor, refugees, the homeless, prisoners, and prostitutes.”

The Diocese of Como has witnessed the tragic deaths of several priests and religious in recent decades while serving those in need. In 1999, Father Renzo Beretta was killed by a homeless man to whom he had been offering assistance.

The following year, Sister Laura Mainetti was murdered by a group of young women in a satanic ritual after being lured by a false plea for help from one of them, who claimed to be pregnant. Sister Laura was beatified in 2021.

“Saints follow one another,” said Cantoni when announcing the opening of the beatification cause. “I am convinced that Father Roberto was a ‘saint next door,’ for his simplicity, for the loving kindness with which he reached out to everyone, for the esteem he received from so many people, even non-believers and non-Christians.”

Bishop of Limerick appeals to people to acknowledge migrants

BISHOP Brendan Leahy has appealed to Limerick people to acknowledge migrants in their local communities this St Patrick’s Day.

The message comes against the backdrop of deadly attacks in the Middle East.

The Bishop says he hopes the message of peace and love that St Patrick espoused will break through the “awful noise of war and hostility” in the world right now.

The leader of the Catholic Church in the diocese has said the “migrant message” of Ireland’s patron saint is more important than ever.

This ‘migrant message’ refers to St Patrick’s life experience of being taken from his home as a young boy, surviving hardship, and ultimately embracing and serving a foreign community, symbolising resilience, hope, and welcome for those far from home.

“This year’s celebration of St Patrick’s Day is taking place against the background of war in the Middle East following the attacks on Iran and Lebanon by the United States and Israel since last Saturday, February 28,” Bishop Leahy said.

“But the message of the Gospel of peace and reconciliation that the migrant St Patrick wanted to promote in Ireland seems more relevant than ever,” he added.

The Bishop said the will of God for humanity is peace.

“To pray for peace, however, requires we re-commit ourselves to doing the will of God in our own lives, in some way correcting within ourselves along with others, the terrible suffering that is being caused through people not doing the will of God, which is peace,” he said.

Bishop Leahy said that in praying for peace on St. Patrick’s Day, we should stand in solidarity with Muslim communities here who also seek peace, especially this week with the end of Ramadan.

“We pray for them. They too pray for peace. They too believe that bowing down to do the will of God matters. Indeed, the word ’Muslims’ means ‘submitters to God’. Muslims often use the greeting ‘as-salamu alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you,” he said.

“Let this year’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day be a time to remember that Jesus asked us not to wait passively for that consoling future,” Bishop Leahy added.

Last month, Bishop Leahy met with Imam Khaled Ghafour at Limerick Islamic Cultural Centre in Dooradoyle.

Korean Carmelite monastery closes in Cambodia after 21 years amid vocation decline

The Discalced Carmelite monastery in Phnom Penh, founded in 2004 by sisters from the Seoul Carmelite Monastery, held the distinction of being the first contemplative religious community from South Korea to undertake missionary work in Cambodia.

After years of service, the remaining sisters are now returning to their homeland.

The closing ceremony was marked by a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, and concelebrated by Bishop Pierre Hangly Suon, Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh, and numerous priests.

Around 100 members of the local Catholic community gathered to express gratitude for the sisters’ quiet but profound witness over the years.

In his homily, Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed deep regret over the closure, acknowledging the spiritual richness the Carmelite presence brought to the local Church.

At the same time, he encouraged the faithful to remain hopeful and united in prayer, emphasizing the enduring value of contemplative life even in its physical absence.

The Carmelite sisters, members of the Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns (OCD), first arrived in Cambodia in 2004.

They initially resided in a house in Phnom Penh before moving in 2010 to a purpose-built monastery in Ang Snuol District, Kandal Province, on the outskirts of the capital.

At its height, the community consisted of seven Korean sisters, many of whom learned Khmer and some English to better connect with the local Church.

Faithful to their charism, the sisters lived a cloistered life dedicated to prayer, silence, penance, and manual work. Their monastery became widely regarded as a place of peace and spiritual refuge amid the rapid development and social changes unfolding in Cambodia.

Visitors often described a profound sense of tranquility upon entering the grounds, where the rhythm of prayer shaped daily life and worldly concerns seemed to fade beyond the monastery walls.

Despite their limited external engagement, the sisters’ presence carried a universal mission.

Rooted in the Carmelite tradition, their primary “work” was prayer—for the Church, for society, and for a world marked by suffering and division. Their hidden sacrifices were offered as a form of spiritual solidarity with humanity.

The closure also highlights wider regional concern. In neighboring Thailand, Church leaders are witnessing similar trends.

“A similar situation in Thailand,” said Niphon Saengpradab, immediate past council president of Serra in Thailand, an organization dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

“The shortage of vocations is attributed to secularization, a decline in family faith, and poor catechesis,” he told LiCAS News.

Mr. Niphon, who chaired a seminar for Serra members in the country’s eastern region on March 20–21, stressed that addressing the decline requires a more proactive approach.

“There must be a renewed and deliberate effort to foster a culture of vocations within the Church,” he said. “We must move from a passive stance to active promotion, accompanied by prayer.”

Reflecting on the origins of the mission, the monastery’s prioress, Sr. Mary, OCD, once described the Cambodian foundation as a historic step for the Korean Church.

Established in 1940 with roots linked to France, the Seoul Carmel community had grown steadily over decades, eventually founding multiple monasteries across South Korea.

The mission to Cambodia, she wrote, was a historic milestone, making it the first contemplative outreach beyond Korea.

While the monastery’s closure marks the end of its presence in Cambodia, many in the local Church remember the Carmelite sisters as a quiet yet powerful witness whose legacy of prayer will continue beyond their departure.

Prince William keen to build 'strong and meaningful' bond with Church

The Prince of Wales is "keen to build a strong and meaningful bond" with the Church of England, a royal aide has said, ahead of the future monarch attending the new Archbishop of Canterbury's official installation this week.

The aide said Prince William's "commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood".

But they added that "those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere".

British monarchs serve as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and hold the title Defender of the Faith.

As part of the role, monarchs are responsible for approving the appointment of archbishops, bishops and deans on the recommendation of the prime minister.

On Wednesday, Dame Sarah Mullally will be installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

The aide said the prince had recently had a "warm and substantive" conversation with the incoming archbishop, reflecting his "genuine interest not only in the Church's work, but in its role as a guardian of a distinctive and ancient English spiritual tradition that remains relevant in contemporary life".

"Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will one day inherit, and they are things he approaches in his own thoughtful way," they added.

Prince William has spoken of his desire to approach being sovereign in his own way.

His personal relationship with the new Archbishop of Canterbury could be a crucial part of how he views the place of faith in his life.

Dame Sarah will lead the nation during key moments in national life in the years ahead.

Forging a bond of trust with William, as a future king, will give her a powerful voice and influence.

Prince William's attendance for this week's ceremony marks the start of an important relationship between the head of the Church of England and its future Supreme Governor.

Prince William's approach to religion and church going will feel different. He comes from a line of monarchs who wore their faith publicly and often spoke about its importance.

His father, the King, attends church most Sundays and has a deep interest in theology and the beliefs of other faiths.

His coronation was a public show of his commitment to the Church of England and a service immersed in Christian ritual.

Prince William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was a committed Christian and found deep comfort in her personal faith - something she expressed more openly during the latter part of her life.

"Christ's example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none," the Queen said in one Christmas message.

During the Covid pandemic when she was living at Windsor Castle, she would often pray at the small private chapel within the Castle - a religious commitment that ran through her 70-year reign.

The aide said of the prince: "As he looks ahead to the responsibilities he will one day assume as Supreme Governor, he is keen to build a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership, one that respects tradition while speaking to a modern Britain, and reflects his broader belief that institutions must continue to remain relevant and connected to the people they serve.

"He understands the importance of the role he will inherit and is committed to carrying it forward with sincerity, authenticity and a clear sense of purpose."

Escalation in the Becciu case: after the nullity of the trial, the Promoter might not deliver key evidence

The trial over the London property scandal has opened a new crack in the Vatican judicial system: a direct confrontation between the Promoter of Justice and the Court of Appeal that threatens to further exacerbate doubts about the transparency of the procedure.

A Showdown Between the Promoter and the Court of Appeal

According to Il Messaggero, in the Vatican, an unprecedented clash is shaping up between the prosecuting body and the appeal judges reviewing the Becciu case. 

The origin of the conflict lies in the order issued on March 17, which declared the relative nullity of the first-instance trial and required the process to be redone.

The Court not only ordered the trial to be repeated but also the full deposit of all documents from the investigative phase before April 30. However, this requirement may not be met.

The Promoter Reserves the Right to Challenge the Judicial Order

The element that has ignited the tension is the Promoter of Justice’s decision to “reserve the right to challenge” the Court’s order. 

In practice, this opens the door to a blockade scenario: the Promoter could fail to present all the required documentation, or limit himself to delivering only a part, as already happened during the first phase of the process.

This precedent is particularly significant. At that time, the then Promoter, Alessandro Diddi, refused to deliver the entirety of the relevant conversations, relying on investigative secrecy, even when the court itself requested it.

Hidden Chats at the Center of the Controversy

The core of the conflict revolves around a series of partially hidden messages - covered with “omissis” - that, according to the defenses, could demonstrate the existence of irregular maneuvers against Cardinal Angelo Becciu.

The appeal judges have expressly acknowledged that the evidentiary material was never delivered in its entirety, but only partially and with censored parts. 

These conversations would include delicate exchanges between the consultant Immacolata Chaouqui and Genoveffa Ciferri, linked to the main prosecution witness, Monsignor Alberto Perlasca.

Some already known fragments have fueled suspicions. In one of them, it reads: “If it is discovered that we were all in agreement, it’s the end,” a statement that has increased doubts about the cleanliness of the process.

Doubts About Respect for Due Process

The Court of Appeal has been unequivocal: in the first-instance trial, a “relative nullity never remedied” occurred that affected a fundamental act of the process. 

Among the most delicate points is also the existence of a pontifical rescript that granted broad powers to the Promoter and which was not communicated to the defenses, limiting their ability to defend.

This aspect has been one of the most criticized by jurists and canonists, who have even questioned whether basic guarantees of a fair trial were respected in the Vatican.

A Setback for Institutional Defenses

The Court’s decision also contradicts the theses defended by the lawyers of the Secretariat of State and the APSA, including the former Italian ministers Giovanni Maria Flick and Paola Severino. Both had argued that the process was conducted with total regularity and that no rights violations occurred.

However, the judges have chosen to side with the defenses of the accused, marking a significant shift in the interpretation of the case.

Uncertainty Ahead of the Next Steps

With the calendar set - first hearings scheduled for June 22 - all eyes are now on the next decision of the tribunal presided over by Archbishop Arellano Cedillo.

If the Promoter decides not to fully comply with the document deposit order, the institutional confrontation could escalate, deepening the credibility crisis surrounding this process from its beginnings.

Changes in the Secretariat of State: Peña Parra's successor already has a name

The recent movements in the Secretariat of State point to an imminent reconfiguration of one of the key positions in the Vatican, in a context also marked by the impact of the Becciu case and its internal consequences.

Peña Parra, headed to the nunciature in Italy

According to Il Giornale, Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra, current substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, would be preparing to leave the position. 

From the Farnesina - the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - the approval has already arrived for his appointment as apostolic nuncio in Italy.

This is a movement of great relevance, given that the substitute is one of the most influential figures in the Roman Curia, with key functions in the internal coordination of the Vatican apparatus and in the ordinary management of the Holy See.

Rudelli, the chosen one to replace him

To occupy that strategic position, the Pope would have already made a decision: the chosen one would be Monsignor Paolo Rudelli, current apostolic nuncio in Colombia.

Rudelli is considered an experienced diplomat within the Holy See’s foreign service, and his eventual appointment would mean a replacement with a clearly diplomatic profile in a position that in recent years has been at the center of various internal tensions.

His rise has been marked by direct appointments during the pontificate of Francis, who designated him archbishop and nuncio, in addition to entrusting him with missions in complex contexts such as Zimbabwe and Colombia.

A replacement at a delicate moment

These movements are taking place in a particularly sensitive context for the Secretariat of State, marked by the consequences of the judicial process related to the funds managed by this dicastery.

The recent decision of the court of appeal, which has declared the relative nullity of the conviction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu - former substitute - has once again put the internal management and power dynamics within this body under the spotlight.

The weight of the Becciu precedent

The Becciu case, which in 2020 led to the sudden fall of one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, continues to cast its shadow over the Secretariat of State. 

The judicial review of the process reinforces the perception that that episode not only had penal implications, but also institutional ones.

In this context, the replacement at the top operational level of the dicastery is not interpreted solely as an ordinary change, but as part of a broader reorganization in one of the nerve centers of the Church’s government.

Silence in Gozo after priest brokered payment to alleged rape victim's family

The Gozo diocese said it had no comment to make in the wake of a court judgment which confirmed a priest brokered a deal to pay a Nadur family €7,000 to drop their claim that their 14-year-old daughter had been raped by the brothers of an MP.

Fr Michael Said, a relative of the accused, acted as an intermediary in the payment in 2008, allegedly telling the family it would be better to accept the money to fund psychological support for the girl rather than undergo the trauma of court proceedings. The girl’s parents testified they accepted the money but later regretted the decision.

The payment allegedly took place on September 15, 2008, one day after the family filed a police report claiming their daughter had been raped by brothers Josef Said and Peter Paul Said and sexually touched by her sister’s fiancé, Mark Lorry Said. The girl later told police that a fourth man, Peter Paul Debono, had also raped her separately.

Josef Said and Peter Paul Said are brothers of Nationalist Party MP and former minister Chris Said, who was a parliamentary secretary when the report was filed.

All four accused were acquitted. A court of appeal this month upheld the initial ruling, finding that the law at the time allowed prosecution for rape without the victim’s consent only if the alleged acts occurred in a public setting.

The court noted that the alleged assaults took place inside a car parked in a private yard, at a construction site and at a hotel – all considered private settings. Laws have since been amended to allow prosecution of rape cases without the victim’s consent regardless of where the alleged crime occurred.

Times of Malta had revealed the story back in 2008. 

Testimony published recently showed that Fr Said “pressured” the victim and her family to accept the payment and withdraw the complaint.

The victim later testified she was paid €120,000 as part of an agreement that included the settlement of a civil case. Testimonies only link Fr Said to the initial €7,000 payment, which was made on behalf of two of the accused.

Repeated attempts for a reaction from Fr Said since Friday drew no answers. The Gozo Curia said yesterday it had no comment to make while the Gozo Church’s safeguarding commission did not reply.

Peter Paul Said, Josef Said and Peter Paul Debono were found not guilty by the appeals court of raping the girl between 2007 and 2008. Mark Lorry Said was also acquitted of corrupting a minor through lewd acts.

The court ruled that the victim’s withdrawal of her complaint prevented prosecution, as the law at the time required the victim’s backing. The defence also established that the alleged assaults occurred on private property.

Peter Paul and Josef Said are brothers of Chris Said, who later served as justice minister between 2012 and 2013 and currently sits as a PN MP.

Asked whether he was aware of the agreement, Chris Said said: “I was never involved in any way in the agreement reached, and I never had any contact with the victim, her relatives, or her lawyers. I became aware of the agreement from the case records.

“I condemn everything that is illegal. However, I have no doubt that, had there been anything illegal, the police would have taken action and the court, both in the first judgment and in the appeal judgment, would have ordered an investigation to be carried out, as has happened on several occasions,” he added.

‘A donation for the girl’

Police first approached the victim’s parents on September 14, 2008, after the family filed a criminal complaint.

Inspector Graziella Muscat testified that the following day, September 15, the family’s lawyer informed her they no longer wished to proceed. Despite this, Muscat continued the case ex officio.

When questioned on September 17, the mother said she had not wanted to halt proceedings but had been told her daughter would suffer further trauma and that the family had been given €7,000 to withdraw the complaint.

Muscat testified that the mother said Fr Said had suggested giving the girl money to pay for a psychologist, private lessons and other support.

The family received €7,000 in cash, while a larger sum was held by a lawyer as a guarantee that the accused would not approach the girl.

Testifying in 2010, the victim’s mother said that, besides Fr Said, another brother of the accused, Reuben Said, had attempted to broker an out-of-court settlement. She described suffering significant stress, including fainting and spending a night in hospital.

The victim’s father confirmed in 2008 that he had signed the withdrawal of the complaint but said he had not been in the right state of mind and had been pressured by third parties, including the priest and members of the accused’s family.

In testimony given in 2009, Fr Said said he had advised the family not to “inflate” matters and to seek a civil solution. He said he knew a payment would be made as a “donation” for the girl but did not know the amount.

Reuben Said confirmed there was an agreement for the family to receive €7,000, while Lm10,000 (about €23,000) would be retained by a lawyer to ensure the brothers did not contact the girl.

Testifying in 2020 as a defence witness, the victim confirmed she had renounced the complaint and that an agreement had been reached. 

She said she received €120,000 from the accused in relation to civil damages.

The victim’s testimony

In earlier proceedings, the victim described the alleged abuse.

She said she was first raped during Mnarja weekend (June 28 and 29), when, aged 13, she met Josef Said for the first time and went with him to his car. He locked the vehicle and drove to a work yard where the family kept trucks, where she said he raped her. She testified this was her first sexual experience.

“She tried to get out of the car, but the door could not be opened because it was locked. She did not like what Josef Said had done to her, but she pushed him away in vain,” the court judgment states.

Speaking in October 2008, the victim said Peter Paul Said first approached her a week later near her home, asking for her mobile number. She refused, but he obtained it and repeatedly called her to meet, sometimes up to six times a day.

On one occasion, he saw her on her way to private lessons, opened his car door and she entered. He drove her to Ta’ Duru, a construction site, where they entered through a window.

She testified that Peter Paul penetrated her there and that similar incidents occurred almost weekly at Ta’ Duru, the Grand Hotel construction site and empty garages in Nadur.

The victim said that during the first incident at Ta’ Duru, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it when she resisted and threatened her with “serious trouble”.

She also testified that Peter Paul Debono had threatened to kill her if she did not go to his garage, where he allegedly raped and sexually assaulted her.

Mark Lorry Said, her sister’s boyfriend, was accused of touching her inappropriately over four years, starting when she was 10.

Retired P.E.I. Catholic priest again scheduled to be sentenced for 1980s sexual abuse

A third sentencing date has been set for a P.E.I. Catholic priest, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child in his St. Margaret's Parish in the late 1980s, after the first two hearings did not go ahead.

Brendon Earl Gallant, 80, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault last summer. The court heard the victim was 12-years-old when Gallant took an interest in the child and began inviting him for sleepovers, where he would give the boy alcohol and invite him to sleep in his bed. 

On the day Gallant was scheduled to be sentenced in October, Gallant’s then-lawyer Peter Ghiz told the court his client wished to withdraw that admission of guilt and instead plead not guilty. 

A hearing for the judge to decide if Gallant would be allowed to do that was scheduled for December, but it also did not go ahead. 

The case was then called back in court March 18. But Gallant’s new lawyer, Chris Montigny, appeared without his client.

Montigny told the court Gallant was ready to be sentenced that day and arrived with all the medications that would be necessary for a period of incarceration, but then an ambulance had to be called for the 80-year-old.

“Unfortunately he became unwell. It was decided to call 911 out of an abundance of caution… so he’s at the hospital now,” Montigny told the court. 

“This matter has taken a bit of a circuitous route here.”

Gallant to return to court in next month

Montigny told Judge Nancy Orr he and the Crown had agreed on a joint recommendation for a period in custody for Gallant, but Gallant needs to be in court himself to be sentenced. 

Judges usually accept the length of incarceration agreed on by the Crown and defense unless they believe it is contrary to the public interest.

Gallant’s next day in court will be in early April, and in the meantime, his lawyer said he is not a flight risk.

“He’s 80 years of age, he’s not going to flee from this jurisdiction in any way,” Montigny said.

The victim in this case — now an adult — has already filed a victim impact statement. 

The man brought the complaint to police in 2023, prompting a two year investigation before Gallant was charged last spring.

The Diocese of Charlottetown has apologized for Gallant’s action and said he was removed from active ministry as soon as he learned of the investigation. 

During the course of his career, Gallant served as a priest in more than a dozen parishes across Prince Edward Island.

His postings included Catholic churches in Cardigan, Little Pond, St. Georges, Georgetown, Souris, Charlottetown, Glenwood, Brae, Alberton, Bloomfield, Foxley River, St. Charles and Burton. 

He retired in 2018 after his final posting in Tignish.

If Gallant is sentenced to less than two years in jail, he’ll be able to serve that sentence on the Island. Any more time and he’ll go off Island to a federal penitentiary. 

'Obsessed' worshipper who harassed Cornwall priest had to be pushed from his home

A vicar kicked an angry parishioner to get her out of his home after she led a campaign of harassment against him, a court heard.

Kay Carpenter went to the home of Reverend Karsten Wedgewood in June 2024 when she had been told not to contact him or go to his house.

The Priest in Charge of St Just-in-Penwith parish church in west Cornwall, near Penzance and St Ives, said he gave the now 62-year-old parishioner the opportunity to leave as she stood in his doorway but when she did not he used his foot to move her back.

He told a hearing at Truro Crown Court last week: "I used my foot and made contact with her stomach or hip area, the middle of her body."

He said he did this so he could shut the door saying it was "a very stressful situation".

The priest told the court there had been years and years of problems with Carpenter which only stopped when she was given police bail with conditions not to contact him.

Rev Wedgewood said the distress led to the diocese being forced to install CCTV at his home so that "any further intimidation on my doorstep can be recorded".

Report shows Cardinal Wojtyla's actions were 'exemplary' in abuse cases, refuting previous claims

In 2023, following a major television documentary claiming that St. John Paul II had covered up clerical sexual abuse when he was leading the Archdiocese of Kraków, Polish experts rejected the claim and urged that archdiocesan records be opened to allow the full context.

It took a change in Church leadership in Kraków to open the archives -- a move announced by Cardinal Grzegorz Rys on Jan. 30, a little over a month after he was installed in Wawel Royal Cathedral.

Once the archives had been opened, two investigative journalists gained firsthand access to the files. 

And after reviewing the material, they headlined their report in the journal Rzeczpospolita: "Cardinal Karol Wojtyla did not cover up cases of pedophilia" in his archdiocese.

What happened in 2023

The opposite headline -- "John Paul II knew about the abuse when he was archbishop of Kraków. As a cardinal, he 'protected the institution first, not the victims'" -- made waves in the media March 6, 2023, when the documentary "Franciszkanska 3" by Marcin Gutowski premiered on TVN24, a private commercial TV network in Poland.

At the time, only the Polish Institute of National Remembrance's archives were opened to researchers -- where state archives from communist authorities are stored -- and based on them, Gutowski claimed that Cardinal Wojtyla wanted to silence the cases, hide them from authorities and move abusive priests to different locations without sanctioning them.

Investigative journalists with Rzeczposolita, Tomasz Krzyzak and Piotr Litka, studied those same archives around the same time -- and in December 2022 published contradictory findings based on the state documentation.

"Looking at those same archives, we had a completely different interpretation of events," Krzyzak told OSV News, stressing that back then, he and Litka knew Cardinal Wojtyla did everything according to canon law, "but, just like TVN's Gutowski, we did not have access to curial archives to obtain more information and verify what was in those state communist archives."

At the time, Church archives in the Archdiocese of Kraków were closed to reporters.

The "Franciszkanska 3" report caused a wave of national debates, with the Polish bishops announcing on March 14, 2023, that they were willing to create a commission of experts to investigate cases of abuse of minors by clergy from the past in the country -- an investigation that would cover the era that St. John Paul II governed the Archdiocese of Kraków as Cardinal Wojtyla.

Fast forward three years, and on March 11, the Polish bishops' conference announced that the commission to investigate past cases of abuse had, after years of preparatory work, finally been established.

A month ahead of this announcement, investigative journalists Krzyzak and Litka had already been studying the archives of the Archdiocese of Kraków, which officially opened on Feb. 10 to researchers and journalists who requested access. 

On March 13, Krzyzak and Litka published the first part of their groundbreaking investigation. On March 20, the second part of their reporting went to print.

What the Archdiocese of Kraków archives say

"Our research shows that Cardinal Karol Wojtyla did not transfer priests from parish to parish when he learned of their criminal activities, but he took quick action, and some of his decisions were above-standard for the time," the March 13 report's lead said.

Asked by OSV News what the archives reveal, Krzyzak said that the archives -- which look "untouched" and "complete" -- give a different picture of Cardinal Wojtyla's actions than found in the story provided by Gutowski.

"There is no evidence that Wojtyla transferred priests from parish to parish because he learned that a person was sexually abusing children," Krzyzak told OSV News. "However, there is evidence that when he did learn about it, he took decisive -- very decisive -- actions consisting in simply suspending one priest or another, sending him to a place of isolation. In general, he took all the decisions that he should have taken."

Krzyzak and Litka studied two cases depicted in an earlier TV documentary in great detail.

One was of Father Eugeniusz Surgent. TVN's documentary claimed Cardinal Wojtyla relinquished responsibility for him, returning him back to his original bishop of the then-apostolic administration of Lubaczów, the future Diocese of Zamosc-Lubaczów.

The case, however, was a lot more complex.

Information about the actions of the abusive priest first came to the archdiocese in 1969 via an anonymous report.

"Anonymous reports at that time were, as a rule, thrown in the trash," Krzyzak said, explaining that when Poland was under communist rule, the communist government persecuted the Church, and anonymous reports on priests were mostly treated as blackmailing the Church by the communist Secret Service, known as Sluzba Bezpiecznestwa, or SB.

But this anonymous report was not ignored. It was treated "seriously," Krzyzak said, because the priest "was causing problems of another nature in different parishes before" by being emotionally unstable and getting into conflict with other priests and parishioners.

After the anonymous report, what Cardinal Wojtyla did "surpassed the times he lived in," Krzyzak said, and provided a vision the future pope had for managing his diocese: He sent the problematic priest for psychiatric tests, and reported the anonymous letter to the bishop of Lubaczów. This bishop, Jan Nowicki of Lubaczów, reprimanded the priest at the time.

The curial archives show that, besides the anonymous letter Cardinal Wojtyla had on alleged abuse of Father Surgent, he had no other official signals from alleged victims' families, even while the state archives claimed the contrary.

"There is no evidence that the boy's mother -- as the Security Service claimed -- presented the case in person at the curia. It cannot be ruled out that this was an over-interpretation by the officers (of SB)," Krzyzak and Litka wrote in their story.

Despite the report being anonymous, the priest was also immediately removed from a classroom where he had been teaching Catechism classes to children. The ordered psychiatric opinion, however, did not refer to any sexual deviances of the priest, only saying that the priest "demonstrates a clear personality deviation."

After two years of no other reports -- whether anonymous or not -- of his alleged abuse, Father Surgent was reassigned to a parish in July 1971.

Indications from the parish that reached Kraków's bishops were, at the beginning, very positive. The priest was a good governor of the parish, and managed the place well, parishioners claimed.

But in May 1973, the director of the school received indications that when the priest was supposedly teaching Catechism, he instead allegedly was abusing boys.

The Archdiocese of Krakow "instantly" -- in June 1973 -- started an investigation -- resulting in the priest's removal from parish, "penal suspension, deprivation of office, income, as well as a ban on working in the Archdiocese of Krakow -- all provided for in such cases by canon law," the investigation by Krzyzak and Litka stated.

"Other penalties -- including a possible transfer to the lay state -- were left to the discretion of the appropriate ordinary, in this case Bishop Jan Nowicki of Lubaczów," it said.

In August 1973, state prosecutors started investigating the case of Father Surgent and, after a trial, sentenced him to three years in prison. He was released early in 1974.

After his prison sentence, Father Surgent wrote a letter with Christmas wishes to Cardinal Wojtyla, saying he offered the future pope his "unworthy prayers and expressions of deepest reverence and devotion," according to the Rzeczpospolita report.

Cardinal Wojtyla answered the letter on Jan. 4, 1975, with a brief sentence: "The Metropolitan Curia in Kraków prohibits you from performing any priestly activities within the Archdiocese of Kraków /can. 2359 § 2 CIC/."

Rzeczpospolita reported: "On that day, a letter was also sent to parish priests and rectors of churches in Krakow, asking Surgent 'not to be allowed to perform priestly functions.'"

Authors of investigation: Wojtyla took decisive action

Krzyzak, who is not only an investigative journalist, but also a canon lawyer, told OSV News that when Cardinal Wojtyla "learned about such cases, he took very decisive action -- suspending priests and sending them into isolation."

He stressed that the future pope was acting with a vision unusual for the time and didn't have the knowledge we have now about manipulative behaviors of perpetrators of sexual abuse: "Sending a priest for psychiatric evaluation at that time was something highly unusual -- almost ahead of its time."

Rejecting the claim of those who doubt the report by Krzyzak and Litka can be objective if based on Church archives, Krzyzak told OSV News: "As time passed, nothing was removed from the archives -- on the contrary, they were expanded with additional documents," he said, underlining the full transparency and cooperation of the curia at Franciszkanska 3, the legendary Kraków address where Cardinal Wojtyla was once archbishop.

At the conclusion of the second part of their newest investigation -- about Father Józef Loranc, whom Cardinal Wojtyla immediately suspended and sent to solitary confinement in the local Cistercian monastery upon learning the priest abused girls -- Krzyzak and Litka wrote:

"The moment Wojtyla learned of the crimes committed by priests under his authority, he made lightning-fast decisions. He suspended clergy, removed them from the scene of the crime, and after they served their prison sentences, he did not immediately reinstate them in pastoral ministry, but ordered them to continue their penance -- effectively keeping them 'imprisoned.'"

"Compared to other hierarchs who also dealt with cases of pedophilia between 1944 and 1989 ... these actions were truly exemplary."

Father Piotr Studnicki, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Kraków, commented: "The research demonstrates that we shouldn't be afraid of opening Church archives for the sake of research. No difficult and painful history is as terrifying as closed archives. We fear what we don't know most."

TVN's reaction

After contacting the author of the documentary "Franciszkanska 3" to comment on the newest investigation debunking the claims published in 2023 by TVN, OSV News received a link to a social media post from the author saying: "For several days now, I've been receiving questions: Why aren't you responding? I thought there was no point, because nothing particularly new had happened in the matter. Two authors went to the archives, found nothing, and based on that, arbitrarily concluded that Cardinal Wojtyla wasn't hiding anything."

Gutowski said the authors of the Rzeczpospolita report "did not confront" their findings with victims of abuse, and said officials at the Archdiocese of Kraków "for 3 years since the publication of 'Franciszkanska 3' have done NOTHING to reach out to the victims and witnesses."

Reacting to the comments of the author of "Franciszkanska 3," Rzeczpospolita's Krzyzak told OSV News: "When writing the text first in 2022, we clearly stated that telling the story through the lens of archival materials does not require us to seek out new testimonies from those who were harmed, but rather relied on the accounts that were given at the time."

"Today, after 50 years, I do not feel competent to enter into someone's life without knowing whether they have processed their trauma or not. It is not my role to knock on someone's door and intrude upon their private life," he said.

"I remain in contact with those who were harmed, but only with those who have reached out to us on their own initiative after the publications," Krzyzak added.

Two days after the initial report by Krzyzak and Litka was published in 2022, announcements were read in parishes of the dioceses of Bielsko-Zywiec (formerly part of the Archdiocese of Kraków), Koszalin-Kolobrzeg and Pelplin, asking people who had been harmed by Father Surgent or who had knowledge of the harm he had caused to come forward.

Father Marek Studenski, vicar general of the Diocese of Bielsko-Zywiec, told OSV News that "one person reported abuse by Father Surgent" after the announcements.

Since the perpetrator died in 2008, "we asked this person what kind of help this person would need, and referred the person to the Foundation of St. Joseph," Father Studenski said, referring to the foundation of the Polish bishops' conference that helps victims of clergy sexual abuse. "The person received the assistance they needed," he said.

On March 17, OSV News asked the TVN station press office what steps, if any, TVN television will take after reviewing the article by Krzyzak and Litka in Rzeczpospolita, given that it challenges the claims made in the documentary "Franciszkanska 3." 

OSV News also asked how TVN is responding to the calls made by public figures that the station should apologize for publishing unverified reports on a Polish historical figure of high importance.

As of March 23, OSV News had not received an answer from TVN, and OSV News forwarded the questions to Paramount, the American owner of the TVN station.

Priest gets 12 years in prison for sex with minor on church compound

A catholic priest who was found guilty of having sex with a minor on the compound of his church was on Friday sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in the St Catherine Circuit Court.

The 41-year-old was sentenced by Justice Dale Palmer to 12 years for having sexual intercourse with a person under 16 and five years for sexual touching.

The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve 12 years in prison.

He must serve eight years before being eligible for parole.

The court heard that between March and April 2023, the priest had sex with the then 12-year-old at his living quarters on the church's compound.

The matter came to light and was reported to the police’s Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse.

An investigation led to his arrest and subsequent charge.

Fr. Oliver O’Reilly - Priest who warned of ‘Mafia-style group’ has died

The death has occurred of a priest who strongly condemned the notorious attack on businessman Kevin Lunney.

Fr. Oliver O’Reilly, formerly of Cloncose, Cornafean, Co Cavan, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026, in the care of his family and staff at Connolly Hospital and St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.

A well-known cleric in the Diocese of Kilmore, Fr O’Reilly served communities in Killeshandra and Arva and was widely respected for his pastoral work and willingness to address difficult issues affecting the border region.

He came to wider public attention in 2019 following the brutal attack on Kevin Lunney, a senior executive with Quinn Industrial Holdings, who was abducted and assaulted.

Speaking at Mass in Ballyconnell in the aftermath of the incident, Fr O’Reilly described the attack as a “senseless atrocity” and warned there was an “obvious cancer of evil in our midst”.

He told parishioners : “I now believe there has been a Mafia-style group with its own Godfather operating in our region for some time behind the scenes,” he told congregants.

“They have decided to ratchet up the intimidation. The Rubicon has now been crossed by this most recent barbaric assault.”

He added that “peace-loving, law-abiding people” were being “held to ransom by a few unscrupulous individuals who are hugely dangerous”.

The remarks prompted a strong response from businessman Sean Quinn, who later confronted the priest over the claims.

“I said, ‘Father, you’re wrong – wrong – and you’ve done me and my family an awful lot of damage. I want to know how you came up with this or where you came out of,’” Mr Quinn said at the time.

Fr O’Reilly remained a prominent and active figure in church life across Cavan and the wider Border area in the years that followed.

Reposing at Lakelands Funeral Home, Cavan, on Monday from 5.30pm until 9pm, his remains will be removed on Tuesday morning to the Sacred Heart Church, Arva, for 12 noon Requiem Mass, followed by burial in the family plot at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea.

Excommunicated Catholic deacon still waiting on overdue appeal outcome after his son was molested by priest

A Louisiana man who resigned as a Roman Catholic deacon after a priest molested his son and then was excommunicated from the church entirely by his local bishop is asking global church leaders to inform him of the fate of his appeal against the prelate’s decision, something that was supposed to be resolved more than a year earlier.

In a letter to the Vatican entity in charge of clerical discipline, a canon – or church – law attorney representing Scott Peyton asserts that his case is “nuanced and requires careful consideration”. “To the extent that the delay reflects such diligence, he is grateful,” said the letter to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), prepared by Dawn Eden Goldstein on 3 February and obtained recently by the Guardian.

Nonetheless, the letter continued, Peyton “wishes that I convey to you that, from his perspective, the unduly long span of time with no communication from your office only compounds the injustices that he and his family have suffered from the church”.

Word of Peyton’s plight earned international news headlines in March 2024, with many outlets characterizing his excommunication as a remarkably harsh consequence that his child’s molester does not appear to have ever faced because the church, in sum, does not consider the abuser’s offense on its own excommunicable.

Peyton was ordained into Louisiana’s diocese of Lafayette – about 135 miles (217km) west of New Orleans – as a deacon in 2012. Deacons are largely similar to priests, though they can join the clergy despite being married.

About six years after his ordination, a priest with whom Peyton ministered at St Peter’s church in Morrow, Louisiana, confessed to molesting the deacon’s teenage son, Oliver, and was arrested by authorities.

Michael Guidry, now 83, later pleaded guilty to abusing Oliver Peyton, who was an altar server. He received a seven-year prison sentence after his church feted him with a farewell lunch for which the diocese was forced to apologize.

In 2021, Peyton said he, his wife, Letitia, and Oliver secured a $350,000 settlement from Lafayette’s diocese to settle a civil lawsuit without a trial. The Peytons in the meantime have become advocates for clergy abuse survivors. 

And in December 2023, Scott Peyton decided he was no longer a good fit to serve as a deacon in the diocese, quit and went on to join an Anglican church’s congregation.

Lafayette bishop J Douglas Deshotel responded to those developments by issuing a 13 March 2024 decree informing Peyton he had been excommunicated, effective immediately, basically because the deacon had severed ties with the Catholic church.

“I am aware that your family has suffered a trauma but the answer does not lie in leaving the Most Holy Eucharist,” Deshotel wrote, adding that “we are not Catholics because the church … is perfect”.

For pious Catholics, excommunication is as severe a punishment as there is, preventing recipients of it from engaging in certain sacraments as a way to essentially shock them into rethinking their sinful behavior before death condemns them to damnation. 

Among the most famous Catholic excommunicates are Henry VIII (over a divorce and remarriage), Napoleon Bonaparte (for annexing the Papal States within Italy to France) and Martin Luther (for igniting the Reformation).

Peyton formally appealed against his excommunication to the DDF in May 2024, arguing in part that “there was no pastoral good to be accomplished” by his censure. He also contended that his wife and six children feel unwelcome in the Catholic church because of his excommunication, meaning the punishment had “harmed the spiritual lives of eight Catholics”.

That appeal ostensibly initiated an adjudication process that generally should be completed in three months.

Deshotel wrote to Peyton in October 2024 – five months later – notifying him that his appeal “material … has been received and is currently being evaluated” by the DDF. The bishop said he sent that letter at the behest of the DDF’s secretary, Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy.

It had been well over a year since that missive when Goldstein herself wrote to Kennedy in early February asking for at least an update concerning the status of her client’s appeal. She argued that the “harm” raised in Peyton’s appeal “continues every day that [it] goes unanswered”.

Goldstein also wrote to Kennedy asking him to inform Oliver Peyton of Guidry’s “current canonical status and any penalties that may have been imposed upon him” after the latter’s guilty plea.

Neither inquiry had received a reply as of Saturday.

Furthermore, neither a Lafayette diocese spokesperson nor Guidry’s criminal defense attorney immediately responded when sent a message asking whether he had been laicized, or removed from the priesthood.

Many Catholic clergymen convicted of child molestation over the years have been allowed to remain in the priesthood. Some abusers who have left the priesthood have done so voluntarily.

The late Francis was the pope when Peyton first filed his excommunication appeal. The pope now is Leo XIV, who was elected to succeed Francis in May 2025 and became history’s first US-born pontiff.

Another abusive Lafayette diocese priest named Gilbert Gauthe all but brought the worldwide, decades-old Catholic clergy abuse crisis to the US’s collective conscience by pleading guilty in 1985 to molesting several boys he met through his ministry.

More recently, Lafayette’s diocese unsuccessfully asked Louisiana’s supreme court to strike down a state law passed in 2021 which eliminated filing deadlines for lawsuits seeking damages over child molestation that occurred long ago.

Meanwhile, on 5 March, a Lafayette diocese priest named Korey LaVergne was formally charged with three counts of felony indecent behavior with a juvenile in connection with allegations that he inappropriately touched a child.

Irish priest Father Edward Flanagan moves one step closer to sainthood

A PRIEST FROM Co Galway has moved one step closer to sainthood.

Pope Leo XIV today authorised for six people to advance towards sainthood and Father Edward Flanagan, born in Ballymoe in Co Galway in 1886, was among these individuals.

A Father Flanagan Memorial Centre has  developed in Ballymoe, which includes a memorial garden and a pilgrim centre. 

Fr Flanagan emigrated to the US with his sister in 1904 and founded an orphanage and education centre called Boys Town in Nebraska.

His work became more widely known after the release of a biographical film called Boys Town in 1938.

Spencer Tracey portrayed Fr Flanagan in the film and won an Oscar for Best Actor.

The film also won an Oscar for Best Story, a category which was discontinued in 1956.

In 2012, the diocese of Omaha in Nebraska initiated the process of canonisation for Fr Flanagan and the case was accepted the same year, at which point Fr Flanagan was declared a Servant of God.

Today Pope Leo recognised Fr Flanagan’s “heroic virtues,” which means the late priest now has a second title: Venerable.

Bishop Kevin Doran is Bishop of Achonry and of Elphin and he said it was “wonderful” to hear of today’s announcement that Fr Flanagan has been declared Venerable.

Bishop Doran said Fr Flanagan had founded Boys Town in a “time of crisis when many young people were living rough on the streets and getting in trouble with the law”.

He added that Boys Town “flourished to become a place where young people could feel at home, and have all the advantages of a solid education and formation for life”.

Bishop Doran also noted that on a visit to Ireland in 1946, Fr Flanagan “raised serious questions about the imprisonment of children and the conditions in which they were forced to live and work”.

He also remarked that Fr Flanagan “stood up against the sectarianism of many in the establishment, and the racist ideology of the Ku Klux Klan, and insisted on welcoming young people of all races and religions in Boys Town”.

“During the Second World War, when Japanese workers and their families in the United States were all interned as ‘hostile aliens’, Father Flanagan arranged for many of them to be set free to come and live in Boys Town,” said Bishop Doran.

“When the war was over, he devoted what remained of his life to visiting some of the countries which had been most impacted by violence in order to support efforts to provide the best possible care for homeless children.”

It was during one such visit in 1948 to Germany that Fr Flanagan died of a heart attack.

Bishop Doran added that Fr Flanagan’s “life and virtue have much to say to us today, in a wealthy country where so many children are forced to live with homelessness, and in a world in which we still find it so easy to define people as ‘hostile aliens’.”

Path to sainthood

The next step towards sainthood is beatification, which follows a rigorous investigation into the person’s life and a posthumous miracle must also be attributed to them – the title of “Blessed” is bestowed to a person who has been beatified.

After being beatified, a second miracle is then required for a person to be canonised and made a saint.

The Catholic Church defines a miracle as a “sign or wonder such as a healing, or control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power”.

For something to be formally recognised by the Church as a miracle, two-thirds of a medical board consisting of at least six doctors are required to sign a statement affirming that the supposed miraculous event cannot be explained by natural causes.

The miraculous recovery must also be a complete, spontaneous, immediate healing from a documented medical condition.

Bishop Doran called on people to make contact with him or the Father Flanagan League of Devotion if they “believe that an unexplained healing has taken place”.

Woman tells Confirmation congregation she allegedly had bomb strapped to her

Teachers and clerics have been praised for remaining calm after a woman told a congregation at a Confirmation ceremony that she allegedly had a bomb strapped to her.

Hundreds of sixth-class children from four schools around Navan, Co. Meath, as well as their parents and sponsors, packed St Mary's Church when the woman made her way onto the altar and told the crowd she had something to say.

After she said she had a bomb, teachers and a priest calmly escorted her off the altar and outside the church, which lies between the Fairgreen and Trimgate Street in the centre of the town.

The young students were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Bishop of Meath, Tom Deenihan, when the incident unfolded.

Thankfully, not everyone heard her proclaim she had a bomb, but most people saw the commotion.

One parent said: "The lady came into the church and got up to the microphone. She held her jacket closed and said she had a bomb and wanted to speak.

"The priests and teachers got up there quickly and ushered the lady outside. Honestly, I don't think a lot of people heard exactly what she said because no-one really seemed to be panicking.

"Our own daughter didn't hear what she said thankfully but I did. "

Another parent said he was on the balcony when he heard the woman speak into the intercom.

"She said she wanted to say something, and then she was ushered out. I didn't hear her mention a bomb, but a lot of children near her looked terrified. My own son was there receiving his Confirmation, but only heard about it from friends after the Mass.

"When we went outside, gardai were there, which also unnerved the kids. I have to say, though, the priests and the teachers did amazingly to keep calm and diffuse the situation quickly."

Clergy at St Mary's Church said they would not be commenting on the matter.

Gardaí say they "responded to a report of a public order incident at a premises in Navan, Co. Meath on Saturday 21st March, 2026 at around 1pm.

"A woman, aged in her 40s, who was arrested at the scene has since been charged. She is due to appear in court at a later date. As this matter is now before the courts, there is no further information available."

Meeting with Leo XIV now has an official fee: 500,000 euros

ABC, which is not exactly known for being a scourge of the Vatican, today shamelessly publishes a news story that, if true - and there’s no reason to doubt it, because the Church itself seems to have decided to publicize it - cruelly portrays the state of affairs: private sponsors are being sought to finance the Pope’s visit, with a minimum fee of half a million euros and an explicit reward in the form of a personal meeting with the Pontiff.

It’s not a hostile leak. 

It’s not an anticlerical campaign. 

It is, as everything indicates, an offer launched naturally, almost with pride, like someone presenting a cultural sponsorship program or a VIP box at a Champions final. 

The Church, which for centuries preached the gratuity of grace and the radical equality of souls before God, now appears organizing access to the Successor of Peter with criteria typical of a marketing department.

The problem is not just aesthetic, though it is that too. It is theological, ecclesial, and deeply scandalous. 

Because here we are not faced with a discreet donation, nor with the silent support of benefactors, something that has always existed. 

We are faced with the institutionalization of a system in which closeness to the Pope - the visible symbol of the Church’s unity - is, de facto, conditioned by economic capacity.

Half a million euros as the entry threshold. The figure is not anecdotal: it is a filter. It defines who can access and who cannot. 

And it turns what should be a sign of communion into a privilege reserved for an economic elite. 

Meanwhile, the ordinary faithful - that one who fills parishes, supports modest collections, and transmits the faith in silence - watches as a Church consolidates in which some enter through the main door and others, simply, do not enter.

The scene that is being prepared is predictable. 

We will see carefully framed photographs of the Pope smiling, shaking hands, blessing with his presence businessmen and millionaires of the worst kind, many of them without the slightest real connection to the life of the Church, but with ample capacity to sign a check. 

And those images will circulate as proof of closeness, as if they were not, in reality, the staging of a growing distance.

It will be said that it is necessary to finance events, that logistics cost money, that someone has to pay. All that is true. 

But not everything is valid. 

Not everything can be done without consequences. 

Because when access to the Pope is publicly associated with a specific figure, what is eroded is not only the image, but the very credibility of the institution.

For centuries, the Church has been accused - often unjustly - of selling what is not for sale. 

Today, there is no need to exaggerate. It is enough to read ABC.

Lourdes establishes an accreditation system for priests who celebrate in the sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has established a new accreditation system for priests and deacons who wish to celebrate in the precinct, with the aim of strengthening the verification of their canonical authorization.

According to the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Monsignor Jean-Marc Micas, the measure involves the systematic verification of the celebret, the ecclesiastical document that certifies that an ordained minister is authorized to exercise his ministry.

Mandatory Verification of the celebret

Every year, Lourdes receives thousands of priests from various countries. In this context, the diocese seeks to ensure that all ministers who celebrate in the sanctuary meet the canonical requirements established by the Church.

Although the obligation to carry this accreditation is not new, from now on its verification will be mandatory in all cases. 

This decision is framed within the commitments adopted by the bishops of France, which include the implementation of an electronic celebret for ordained ministers.

Two Procedures Depending on the Type of Pilgrimage

The new system distinguishes between those who attend organized pilgrimages and those who do so individually.

In the case of groups, organizers must pre-register priests and deacons on the sanctuary’s platform, certifying that there are no restrictions on them. 

Upon arrival, they will receive nominative credentials valid for the current year.

For ministers traveling on their own, the procedure is carried out directly at the sanctuary’s Information Center, where they must present their celebret to obtain their accreditation.

In both cases, it is emphasized that the document must always be carried with them, regardless of the prior registration system.

A Measure Due to the High Influx of Pilgrims

The implementation of this system responds to a desire to strengthen control and accountability mechanisms in the exercise of the ministry, especially in a place of international influx like Lourdes.

Bishop Micas has pointed out that the application of the new procedure may require an adaptation period, so he has asked for understanding and collaboration from priests and deacons who come to the sanctuary.

Likewise, he has urged to widely disseminate this information in the dioceses to ensure that all ministers are informed before their arrival.

One Single Missal for Unity: The Abbot of Solesmes Writes to Leo XIV

The abbot of Solesmes, Dom Geoffroy Kemlin, has sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV with a concrete proposal to end the liturgical division in the Church. 

According to Rorate Caeli, the Benedictine suggests integrating the ancient rite into the current Roman Missal as a way to restore unity.

The initiative arises in a context of persistent tensions between the faithful attached to the traditional rite and those who follow the missal reformed after the Second Vatican Council. 

Kemlin, who presides over the Benedictine Congregation of Solesmes, proposes a solution that avoids both imposition and rupture.

A proposal to overcome the liturgical division

In his letter, dated November 12, 2025, the abbot acknowledges that the differences between the Novus Ordo and the Vetus Ordo are not merely accidental, but affect the way of praying and the very understanding of the liturgy. 

For this reason, he considers it unrealistic to expect that the faithful attached to the ancient rite will naturally adopt the missal of Paul VI.

Far from proposing a reform of the new missal to make it resemble the ancient one—which, in his view, would generate more divisions - Kemlin suggests a different path: incorporating the traditional rite into the current Roman Missal. 

In this way, both uses would coexist in a single liturgical book.

As he explains, this integration would allow the reformed missal to remain intact, while making room for the ancient rite with minimal adaptations, such as the possibility of using the vernacular language or including new Eucharistic Prayers.

Unity without uniformity

The abbot insists that his proposal seeks to restore unity without imposing uniformity. In his opinion, many faithful attached to the traditional liturgy do not act out of ideology, but because they find in it a profound spiritual experience that they do not find in the reformed rite.

Coexistence within a single missal would also allow for the unification of the liturgical calendar and avoid the current fragmentation. For Kemlin, this solution would facilitate welcoming diverse sensitivities without excluding anyone or generating new conflicts.

An experience lived in Solesmes

In an interview given to the French radio RCF Sarthe on March 16, 2026, the abbot explained that his proposal arises from the concrete experience of his own congregation, where communities coexist that celebrate both according to the ancient rite and the new one.

He himself has lived both realities: he entered the abbey of Fontgombault, linked to the traditional rite, before moving to Solesmes, where it is celebrated according to the conciliar reform. This coexistence, he assures, has demonstrated that liturgical diversity can be lived in peace.

“The liturgy is made to unite, not to divide,” he states. For this reason, he considers it urgent to take a step that allows overcoming a fracture that, in his view, causes suffering in the Church.

A path different from that of Benedict XVI and Francis

Kemlin distinguishes his proposal from previous solutions. While Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum expanded the use of the ancient rite by placing it alongside the new one, it did not succeed in reducing tensions. 

For his part, Traditionis Custodes, promulgated by Pope Francis in 2021, sought to limit that use to «preserve unity,» but it has not closed the debate either.

In contrast to both approaches, the abbot proposes an organic integration into a single missal, thus avoiding the parallel coexistence of two separate forms.

Awaiting a response

The Benedictine abbot acknowledges that his proposal is only a starting point and that it is up to the Holy See, the bishops, and the Dicastery for Divine Worship to discern its viability.

Nevertheless, he is convinced that the Church needs to address this issue with realism and a spirit of communion. 

In his view, only an inclusive solution will allow healing a division that affects liturgical life and, ultimately, the visible unity of the Church.

Federal judge grants injunction allowing clergy visits at Minneapolis ICE holding facility

Clergy will be allowed to minister to immigrants in a holding facility at the headquarters of the Trump administration’s enforcement surge in Minnesota, a federal judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell granted an injunction requested by Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and a Catholic priest who had sued the Department of Homeland Security.

Under his ruling, clergy will be allowed in-person pastoral visits to all detainees at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, the site of frequent protests over roughly the 3,000 federal officers who had surged into the state at the height of the crackdown.

Blackwell said the plaintiffs had met their burden of proving that they’re likely to succeed when the case reaches a final conclusion, and that restrictions on the religious freedom of clergy to minister to detainees constitutes “irreparable harm.”

He ordered both sides to meet within four business days to try to agree on details for how to provide access that takes into account the government’s legitimate security concerns, and then submit a plan within seven business days, or competing proposals if they can’t agree.

Bishop Jennifer Nagel, of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was turned away from Whipple when she tried to go to visit with detainees on Ash Wednesday. She told reporters after the hearing that serving people in crisis is fundamental in many religions.

“The trauma that families are going through, and individuals are going through, at these times is exorbitant. And so to be able to meet people in those needs, that’s very much at the core, the heart and soul of what we do as ministers of all different traditions,” Nagel said.

The lawsuit alleges the Whipple building, named for Minnesota’s first Episcopal bishop, a 19th-century advocate for human rights, “now stands in stark contrast to its namesake’s legacy.” It says the building has “become the epicenter of systematic deprivation of fundamental constitutional and legal rights by the federal government.”

Government attorneys noted that Operation Metro Surge officially ended on Feb. 12. They also said the number of new detentions has since subsided, so temporary restrictions on visitors have been eased, and clergy visits have been allowed for over two weeks.

But Blackwell agreed with attorneys for the plaintiffs who argued that the issue isn’t moot, because the government still doesn’t have a formal plan requiring access that sets out who decides the conditions under which clergy are admitted.

Catholic and Episcopal bishops in Minnesota, other Christian and Jewish clergy, and the Minnesota Council of Churches also formally supported the request. The courtroom was filled with Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, Jewish and other clergy.

Clergy across the country have been pushing for more access to immigration detention facilities, especially during the holy seasons of Lent and Ramadan. It’s a longstanding practice for faith leaders to minister to detainees. but it has become far more contentious amid the current immigration crackdown.

It took a similar lawsuit for two Catholic priests and a nun to gain entry into an ICE facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Ash Wednesday last month. And Muslim and Christian clergy in Texas have struggled to get into large Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities there.

Tauria Rich, a senior local ICE official who oversees Whipple, said in a filing this week that visitors to Whipple are rare, and that any clergy requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. She said one clergy member had attempted to visit in early March, but left because no detainees were present. The visit would have been allowed if any detainees had been there, she said.

ICE calls the building a short-term holding facility, and not the kind of long-term detention center where clergy visits are normally allowed.

It’s not just clergy who’ve struggled to get in. Three members of Congress from Minnesota were turned away when they tried to inspect the facility. Once they did get in, they reported poor conditions.

Access has also been an issue for attorneys. Homeland Security was ordered by a different federal judge last month to give new detainees at Whipple immediate access to counsel before they’re taken elsewhere. That judge held a hearing this week to consider whether to convert her temporary order into a more permanent injunction. Her ruling is pending.