Cardinal’s Christmas message “misrepresented” abortion legislation; Sex-abuse clergy still get charity donations; Childline takes over 1,000 calls on Christmas Day; Unwanted Christmas Gifts sought at Dublin’s Pro Cathedral
McNamara: Cardinal’s Christmas message “misrepresented” abortion legislation issue
Labour TD Michael McNamara said that Cardinal Brady misrepresented the legal position within which the Oireachtas is required to legislate.
http://www.thejournal.ie/cardinal-brady-christmas-message-730795-Dec2012/
Sex-abuse clergy still get charity donations
Independent – Religious orders that owe the State millions in reparations for child sex abuse continue to receive hundreds of thousands of euro in charitable donations.
A survey conducted by the Irish Independent has revealed how organisations shamed by sexual abuse in the Catholic Church have continued to receive support.
All are eligible to claim tax relief because their religious status guarantees official charitable recognition.
Under the 2002 indemnity agreement, the orders were asked to pay €128m to the State.
However, following the publication of the Ryan Report, they were asked to make further substantial contributions in reparation for abuse.
They offered €110m in cash but to date just €39m has been received by the State. More at:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sexabuse-clergy-still-get-charity-donations-3335894.html
Childline takes over 1,000 calls on Christmas Day
Irish Times – Children’s helpline charity Childline received more 50 calls, messages and texts every hour, a slight decrease on the previous year’s figure.
Many of the calls to the ISPCC helpline on Christmas Day were from young people struggling to cope with family problems, loneliness and mental health issues, the charity said.
Throughout the day volunteers dealt with a total of 1,212 calls, texts, and messages.
Last year’s figure of 1,400 calls, texts and messages on Christmas Day, represented a 40 per cent increase from the same day in 2010.
Margie Roe, national manager of the ISPCC’s Childline service, said children made contact with them for a number of reasons.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1226/breaking7.html
Unwanted Christmas Gifts sought at Dublin’s Pro Cathedral
Unwanted gifts will taken into storage by Crosscare, who will distribute them as gifts to people in their homeless and residential projects for Christmas 2013.
http://www.thejournal.ie/unwanted-christmas-gifts-sought-at-dublins-pro-cathedral-730700-Dec2012/