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Sarah R Mac Donald

@sarahrmacdonald.bsky.social

Ireland Correspondent for The Tablet. Freelance Irish Independent, OSV News, NCR, Global Sisters Report. Documentary maker for RTE DoconOne, Producer of MaryWarddocumentary.com. CPA awards 2017/18.

429 Followers  |  529 Following  |  70 Posts  |  Joined: 16.11.2024  |  2.0357

Latest posts by sarahrmacdonald.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Priest warns people to choose words carefully when offering condolences on suicide A priest in the west of Ireland has appealed to people to stop posting ­comments such as “he is in a better place now” or “she is at peace with the angels” when sending condolences for those who have ...

#Priest warns people to choose words carefully when offering condolences on #suicide

www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...

28.10.2025 10:14 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Priest warns people to choose words carefully when offering condolences on suicide A priest in the west of Ireland has appealed to people to stop posting ­comments such as “he is in a better place now” or “she is at peace with the angels” when sending condolences for those who have ...

#Priest warns people to choose words carefully when offering condolences on #suicide

www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...

28.10.2025 10:14 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Synodality ‘well underway’ in Ireland - The Tablet Speaking to 230 delegates who attended the pre synodal assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway in Kilkenny, he said the synodality process was “well underway”

www.thetablet.co.uk/news/synodal... A richer #theology of #baptism is essential for the renewal of the Church in #Ireland, according to Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll. @catholicbishops.bsky.social Report in @thetablet.bsky.social #synodality

21.10.2025 11:42 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Synodality ‘well underway’ in Ireland - The Tablet Speaking to 230 delegates who attended the pre synodal assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway in Kilkenny, he said the synodality process was “well underway”

www.thetablet.co.uk/news/synodal... A richer #theology of #baptism is essential for the renewal of the Church in #Ireland, according to Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll. @catholicbishops.bsky.social Report in @thetablet.bsky.social #synodality

21.10.2025 11:42 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Sarah Mac Donald: Delegates’ unity lauded as Catholic faithful gather to discuss future of church The Catholic Church in Ireland held a national gathering in Kilkenny at the weekend to plot its path forward for a very different future.

Sarah Mac Donald: Delegates’ unity lauded as #Catholic faithful gather to discuss future of church in #Kilkenny. 'Have we learnt how to disagree as well as agree?' asked theologian Fr Gerry O'Hanlon. #IrishSynodalPathway #synodality

www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...

20.10.2025 12:26 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Sarah Mac Donald: Delegates’ unity lauded as Catholic faithful gather to discuss future of church The Catholic Church in Ireland held a national gathering in Kilkenny at the weekend to plot its path forward for a very different future.

Sarah Mac Donald: Delegates’ unity lauded as #Catholic faithful gather to discuss future of church in #Kilkenny. 'Have we learnt how to disagree as well as agree?' asked theologian Fr Gerry O'Hanlon. #IrishSynodalPathway #synodality

www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...

20.10.2025 12:26 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

A reexamination of a failed attempt in #Ireland to help #Jewish people persecuted in #WorldWarII - a report of the annual Corish 2025 lecture @StPatsMaynooth by professor @DavidKertzer #PiusXII www.thetablet.co.uk/news/a-reexa...

14.10.2025 16:21 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

A reexamination of a failed attempt in #Ireland to help #Jewish people persecuted in #WorldWarII - a report of the annual Corish 2025 lecture @StPatsMaynooth by professor @DavidKertzer #PiusXII www.thetablet.co.uk/news/a-reexa...

14.10.2025 16:21 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘They are turning to the Catholic faith’ – Cork bishop sees revival of interest in religion among Gen Z The Catholic Bishop of Cork has said he is “not surprised” by the findings of a new poll indicating there is a revival of interest in religion among members of Generation Z.

‘They are turning to the Catholic faith’ – Cork bishop sees revival of interest in religion among Gen Z

www.independent.ie/irish-news/t...

14.10.2025 09:15 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘They are turning to the Catholic faith’ – Cork bishop sees revival of interest in religion among Gen Z The Catholic Bishop of Cork has said he is “not surprised” by the findings of a new poll indicating there is a revival of interest in religion among members of Generation Z.

‘They are turning to the Catholic faith’ – Cork bishop sees revival of interest in religion among Gen Z

www.independent.ie/irish-news/t...

14.10.2025 09:15 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘It’s inadequate and patronising’ – leading Irish theologian says arguments against female priests are ‘unpersuasive’ The core arguments for the “exclusion” of women from the Catholic priesthood “are unpersuasive”, a leading Irish theologian has said.

‘It’s inadequate and patronising’ – leading Irish theologian says arguments against female priests are ‘unpersuasive’

www.independent.ie/irish-news/i...

06.10.2025 12:01 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘It’s inadequate and patronising’ – leading Irish theologian says arguments against female priests are ‘unpersuasive’ The core arguments for the “exclusion” of women from the Catholic priesthood “are unpersuasive”, a leading Irish theologian has said.

‘It’s inadequate and patronising’ – leading Irish theologian says arguments against female priests are ‘unpersuasive’

www.independent.ie/irish-news/i...

06.10.2025 12:01 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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I was 17 when I was recruited to the ‘Wolf of God’ – after two decades in the Legionaries of Christ, I broke free He was once feted by the Vatican and had unparalleled access to Pope John Paul II who referred to him as “dear Fr Maciel”.

I was 17 when I was recruited by the ‘#WolfofGod’ – John Paul Lennon was one of the first eight Irish-born members of the #LegionariesofChrist. Later he blew the whistle on founder Fr #Maciel - “There was this deviousness in Maciel". Read the story in today's Review in @Independent_ie bit.ly/3W9xGO3

27.09.2025 11:33 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Study into sexual abuse of women religious sheds light on spiritual abuse The first research study into the sexual abuse of women religious in German-speaking countries has shown a common pattern of spiritual abuse with global cases and highlighted that the majority of abus...

The first research study into the sexual abuse of women religious in German-speaking countries has shown a common pattern of spiritual abuse with global cases and highlighted that the majority of abuse is perpetrated by men, although some sisters were abused also by women superiors.

26.09.2025 19:00 — 👍 16    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0
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I was 17 when I was recruited to the ‘Wolf of God’ – after two decades in the Legionaries of Christ, I broke free He was once feted by the Vatican and had unparalleled access to Pope John Paul II who referred to him as “dear Fr Maciel”.

I was 17 when I was recruited by the ‘#WolfofGod’ – John Paul Lennon was one of the first eight Irish-born members of the #LegionariesofChrist. Later he blew the whistle on founder Fr #Maciel - “There was this deviousness in Maciel". Read the story in today's Review in @Independent_ie bit.ly/3W9xGO3

27.09.2025 11:33 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Former Opus Dei numerary's memoir claims abuse, trafficking In Serve: My Lost Years at the Heart of Opus Dei, Anne Marie Allen documents the domestic servitude which she and other Irish women say they were lured into with the promise of vocational training in ...

Former Opus Dei assistant numerary's memoir claims abuse, trafficking www.ncronline.org/culture/form... #OpusDei #Ireland

26.09.2025 11:47 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Former Opus Dei numerary's memoir claims abuse, trafficking In Serve: My Lost Years at the Heart of Opus Dei, Anne Marie Allen documents the domestic servitude which she and other Irish women say they were lured into with the promise of vocational training in ...

Former Opus Dei assistant numerary's memoir claims abuse, trafficking www.ncronline.org/culture/form... #OpusDei #Ireland

26.09.2025 11:47 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘He was an ordinary boy playing video games’ – How millennial Saint Carlo Acutis is winning over Ireland’s Gen Z In Ireland and Britain the popular narrative around Catholicism is one of ‘decline and fall’. But does the popularity of the millennial saint Carlo Acutis and other recent reports of growing interest ...

‘He was an ordinary boy playing video games’ – How millennial Saint #CarloAcutis is winning over Ireland’s #GenZ

www.independent.ie/irish-news/h... #IrishCatholicism

13.09.2025 09:40 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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‘He was an ordinary boy playing video games’ – How millennial Saint Carlo Acutis is winning over Ireland’s Gen Z In Ireland and Britain the popular narrative around Catholicism is one of ‘decline and fall’. But does the popularity of the millennial saint Carlo Acutis and other recent reports of growing interest ...

‘He was an ordinary boy playing video games’ – How millennial Saint #CarloAcutis is winning over Ireland’s #GenZ

www.independent.ie/irish-news/h... #IrishCatholicism

13.09.2025 09:40 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Search of mass grave begins at site of closed Irish Catholic home for children "The mentality," according to what Catherine Corless has heard people say, was "that these children were 'the sin of the mother.'

Now, 13 years after the publication of her article, "The Home," an excavation on behalf of Galway County Council is underway to try to recover the remains of the children buried at the home, which was run by the Bons Secours Sisters from 1925 to 1961.

10.09.2025 12:42 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Search of mass grave begins at site of closed Irish Catholic home for children "The mentality," according to what Catherine Corless has heard people say, was "that these children were 'the sin of the mother.'

Search of mass grave begins at site of closed Irish Catholic home for children. According to Corrigan the #BonSecoursSisters wrote to her in April 2013 and told her that a grave existed in #Tuam www.ncronline.org/news/search-... #TuamMotherandBabyHome

10.09.2025 12:50 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Search of mass grave begins at site of closed Irish Catholic home for children "The mentality," according to what Catherine Corless has heard people say, was "that these children were 'the sin of the mother.'

Search of mass grave begins at site of closed Irish Catholic home for children. According to Corrigan the #BonSecoursSisters wrote to her in April 2013 and told her that a grave existed in #Tuam www.ncronline.org/news/search-... #TuamMotherandBabyHome

10.09.2025 12:50 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Prominent Belfast priest criticises presidential election for excluding citizens in Northern Ireland A well-known Belfast priest has criticised the exclusion of people in Northern Ireland who identify as Irish citizens from the presidential election in November.

Prominent #Belfast priest criticises presidential election for excluding citizens in #NorthernIreland

www.independent.ie/irish-news/p... #presidentialelection2025

02.09.2025 08:52 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Prominent Belfast priest criticises presidential election for excluding citizens in Northern Ireland A well-known Belfast priest has criticised the exclusion of people in Northern Ireland who identify as Irish citizens from the presidential election in November.

Prominent #Belfast priest criticises presidential election for excluding citizens in #NorthernIreland

www.independent.ie/irish-news/p... #presidentialelection2025

02.09.2025 08:52 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Vatican official warns of AI’s hidden costs to environment, work and society - OSV News Bishop Paul Tighe, a top official at the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, is urging caution on artificial intelligence -- warning that its hidden environmental costs, impact on jobs and ...

Bishop Paul Tighe a top official at the #Vatican’s Dicastery for #Culture & #Education is urging caution on #artificialintelligence, warning that its hidden environmental costs, impact on jobs & broader social risks can’t be overlooked @osvnews.bsky.social bit.ly/4oWXCd4 @catholicbishops.bsky.social

27.08.2025 21:19 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Vatican official warns of AI’s hidden costs to environment, work and society - OSV News Bishop Paul Tighe, a top official at the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education, is urging caution on artificial intelligence -- warning that its hidden environmental costs, impact on jobs and ...

Bishop Paul Tighe a top official at the #Vatican’s Dicastery for #Culture & #Education is urging caution on #artificialintelligence, warning that its hidden environmental costs, impact on jobs & broader social risks can’t be overlooked @osvnews.bsky.social bit.ly/4oWXCd4 @catholicbishops.bsky.social

27.08.2025 21:19 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Top Catholic academics and clerics meet to discuss making theology relevant for today - The Tablet In her address to the Congress of the European Society for Catholic Theology at Trinity College Dublin, Professor Soskice said this was a task for theology

Top Catholic academics & clerics discuss making theology relevant for today at @tcddublin.bsky.social In his address Cardinal Jean-Marc #Aveline of Marseille warned “A deficit in #theology is often paid for by an excess of #ideology”
bit.ly/421KadX @thetablet.bsky.social @catholicbishops.bsky.social

26.08.2025 12:54 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
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Top Catholic academics and clerics meet to discuss making theology relevant for today - The Tablet In her address to the Congress of the European Society for Catholic Theology at Trinity College Dublin, Professor Soskice said this was a task for theology

Top Catholic academics & clerics discuss making theology relevant for today at @tcddublin.bsky.social In his address Cardinal Jean-Marc #Aveline of Marseille warned “A deficit in #theology is often paid for by an excess of #ideology”
bit.ly/421KadX @thetablet.bsky.social @catholicbishops.bsky.social

26.08.2025 12:54 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
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The Synodal Pathway – at home in a changing Church - The Tablet It is the most significant leadership role held by a woman in the Irish Church in living memory. In September 2022, Julieann Moran was appointed general

The Synodal Pathway – at home in a changing Church. It's the most significant #leadership role held by a #woman in the #IrishChurch in living memory. My interview with Julieann Moran, general secretary of the #IrishSynodalPathway for @thetablet.bsky.social bit.ly/3UW5JZq @catholicbishops.bsky.social

08.08.2025 16:41 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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The Synodal Pathway – at home in a changing Church - The Tablet It is the most significant leadership role held by a woman in the Irish Church in living memory. In September 2022, Julieann Moran was appointed general

The Synodal Pathway – at home in a changing Church. It's the most significant #leadership role held by a #woman in the #IrishChurch in living memory. My interview with Julieann Moran, general secretary of the #IrishSynodalPathway for @thetablet.bsky.social bit.ly/3UW5JZq @catholicbishops.bsky.social

08.08.2025 16:41 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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