Books: Reflections for a season of pain and great joy – Pages 36 & 37 HIGH NUALA CEILING SIERRA O’LOAN THE DEAL Our unlikely friendship Abortion stalks Deciphering the Sistine with an African jewel coronavirus in Chapel artwork at Pages 16-17 North Page 8 Newman Pages 20 & 21 f L Thursday, March 19, 2020 €2.00 (Stg £1.70) The-Irish-Catholic-Newspaper @IrishCathNews www.irishcatholic.com Catholic Plea for churches to remain publisher to offer free books open as millions tune in for to parishes Staff reporter The publisher of Columba books and The Irish Catholic online Masses from Ireland has offered free books and and pray and reach out nigan, operations man- e-books to parishes so that Chai Brady, Róise to others and be inspired ager, said that this was Bud blooms for Lily Baptism parishioners can engage in McGagh and Aron by that faith in Jesus,” he up on the approximate spiritual reading while Masses Hegarty said. half a million viewers around the country are Fr Bill Dailey CSC of they expect on a normal Irish churches plan on disrupted during Lent. staying open as places Dublin’s popular New- weekend. “‘Beautiful books to lift of prayer during the cor- man Church said it is your spirit’ is our motto and if onavirus scare, so long “very important” for Platform ever people needed a lift it is as authorities permit it. people to be able to visit ChurchServices.tv, now. Catholics are dispensed It comes as Pope Francis churches to pray. which provides a simi- pleaded for churches to He said that the lar platform, said it did from Mass, but the churches remain open for people. “safety and well-being not have figures but that are open and it’s a wonderful Bishop of Waterford of our community is that there was four to opportunity to catch up on and Lismore Dr Phonsie our first priority. That five times more people spiritual reading because Cullinan told The Irish said, so long as we are watching their lives- it’s also Lent and it’s time to Catholic that it is impor- permitted to keep these treams compared to reflect on life and its meaning,” tant for churches to stay buildings open for quiet average figures. according to publisher Garry open so people can “go prayer and reflection, we At Knock Shrine, Fr O’Sullivan. in and find a quiet space must”. Richard Gibbons said The books include titles from they saw the number of and pray – that’s won- Meanwhile, millions renowned authors such as Sr people watching online derful”. However, he of people tuned in to Stan, Donal Harrington, Finbar Masses rise by a third said that parishes must weekend Masses online from 20,000 to 30,000. O’Leary and many more. be prudent. according to figures “It’s an extraordinary “The churches staying open “We draw a distinc- obtained by this news- thing, it took us by com- is also a great sign of hope to tion between the health paper. plete surprise. It’s great the community and a reminder of the body and the MCN, which provides people are joining in in that there is a heart and a health of the soul, we streaming services for from our parish and all centre in the parish. This is do have to listen to the many Irish parishes, over the world. why we are reporting from all medical people about confirmed that approxi- Fr Mícheal Murphy PP anoints Lily Grace Clavin with a cotton “There was a great over the country so Catholics these things and heed mately 12 million people bud during her Baptism at St Mary’s Church in Clonaghadoo, sense of solidarity. can get reliable information on their good and prudent watched Masses online Co. Laois. Pictured with their baby are parents JJ and Mary. The Even for our own par- what’s happening,” he said. advice but we also invite over the weekend using new Baptism measures were put in place to contain the spread of people to reach out to go their platform. Joe Bran- » Continued on Page 2 Covid-19 (coronavirus). i See page 3. MARY KENNY DON’T BELIEVE VIRUS DAVID QUINN LIES OR RUMOURS Open church is a Teacher college must symbol Bishop of Ossory reverse bioethics PAGE 5 PAGE 3 course decision PAGE 9 WE LIVE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES… SUBSCRIBE TODAY 3 MONTHS FOR ONLY Don’t miss breaking news directly to your inbox or tablet each week with The Irish Catholic. €9.99* CODE: ICSPRINGOFFER *REGULAR PRICE €15 2 | Comment || The Irish Catholic, March 19, 2020 The Irish Catholic, March 19, 2020 | News ||3 Inside this week US Dead Sea A St Patrick’s Day like no other Don’t believe ‘lies’ about Scrolls are all fake ith most Masses Staff reporter Love Notes cancelled, this is the first Sixteen fragments in the Museum St Patrick’s Day since I Start your day of the Bible in Washington DC are was an infant that I was Editor’s Comment coronavirus says bishop water every 15 minutes Bishop Farrell said: “The Genuine hope will keep us concern for our neighbours,” not from the ancient Dead Sea the right way not physically at the Celebration of Chai Brady washes the virus into the challenge posed by this above the water as we face Bishop Farrell said. Scrolls but elaborate fakes, it has Wthe Eucharist. And yet in tuning in to Page 34 Michael Kelly The Bishop of Ossory has stomach, killing it. This has aggressive virus will require a range of difficult decisions “As we now enter the emerged. my parish’s online Mass at Newman’s called on people not to be been proven to be false by the deepest outpourings of and challenges.” painful and prolonged Despite the fact that they were University Church in Dublin I felt very fooled by “lies or rumours” the World Health Organi- faith, hope and love, and the He asked that people uncertainty of grappling purchased for millions of dol- connected and the ancient regarding the coronavirus sation and media organisa- most rigorous exercises of pray for those who have died with the coronavirus, we lars, they have now been exposed faith seemed very much (Covid-19), at a time when tions. There was also claims justice, prudence, resilience, and their loved ones, those pray that this will be a as worthless forgeries probably alive. several Government bodies Steady as it goes Our 132-year record is your guarantee that Ireland would be put self-control and courage. who are ill or facing financial shared undertaking for the made from old shoe leather. Church leaders have have warned people of dis- l This is an uncertain time for newspaper emailed to you so that it can under ‘status red’ lockdown “We cannot lose hope at hardship. “The coronavirus benefit of all humanity, a However, the hoaxers did such correctly followed the information circulating on L’Arche remains parish communities, and it is also an be distributed to parishioners who are ill or with the army patrolling the this unprecedented time in poses a threat that knows no time when we realise that a good job that even scholars of advice from healthcare social media. unprecedented time for confined, we will be happy to provide it free streets – a claim denied by our history. God’s hope is in borders. As people of faith, we are one family living in the scrolls – which were found in a model of professionals that larger The Irish Catholic. In a homily over the Government officials. us, not just our hope in God. neither does our love and our common home.” 1946 and are priceless fragments solidarity gatherings of people We are extremely grateful for all that you do of charge. weekend Bishop Dermot should not go ahead in to promote the newspaper and the value of Some of you may also have concerns Farrell encouraged the of the Hebrew bible – were taken Page 14 a bid to slow down the bringing Catholic media into homes in your about unsold copies of the newspaper. Be Faithful to keep their hope in. spread of coronavirus. parish. assured that we will be absolutely flexible in and that “lies and rumours” Praying on The actual scrolls – 100,000 This is a painful time for I appreciate that it will not be as easy this regard and there is no need to worry or don’t come from God. fragments of which are in Jeru- Catholics, but it is also to distribute the newspaper as it normally cancel the newspaper. “Genuine hope will keep salem – are one of the most sig- Fr Ron Rolheiser a time when we must would, however most Churches will remain If there is anything we can do to help us above the water as we face empty streets nificant archaeological finds of all accept that sacrifices open and we ask you to leave The Irish make this uncertain time easier, please do a range of difficult decisions time An alternate have to be made for the Catholics on display so that parishioners can not hesitate to contact us. We will continue and challenges. Don’t lend in Rome... expression of common good: in this buy it. People are struggling to discern real to do what we have been doing for the credence to lies or rumours, Report case, the elderly and news from fake news about this emergency past 132 years – delivering a high quality or give in to panic.