Protesters Disrupt Mass at Armagh Cathedral

A group of around 30 pro-Palestine protesters disrupted a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland, to criticize the Catholic Church's perceived silence on the Gaza conflict. The protesters, part of the newly formed Christians4Palestine group, held banners reading 'silence is violence' and 'don't make Christ complicit in genocide', claiming that the church has been vocal about other conflicts but silent on Gaza. The Archdiocese expressed disappointment over the disruption, emphasizing their sympathy for Gaza while condemning the method of protest during a sacred service. Father Barry Mathews, presiding over the Mass, defended the church's humanitarian contributions to Gaza and urged that the church should not be used for political statements. Critics of the church’s stance argue that church leaders are failing to uphold Christian values by not condemning actions in Gaza as strongly as they did with the invasion of Ukraine. Israel, meanwhile, has denied allegations of genocide, despite reports from a UN committee suggesting otherwise.