Eight people took their own lives in Cork last weekend according to a Dáil deputy from the city. “My phone was hopping all weekend. If it was a minibus with eight people killed it would be national news,” Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley told The Irish Catholic. Deputy Buckley, who lost two brothers to death…

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began yesterday (Wednesday) with an official inauguration service at the Church of Ireland parish in Taney in south Dublin. This year the event occurs while the Catholic bishops are in Rome at their ad limina meeting with the Pope, so no Catholic bishops will be present at ecumenical…

Fine Gael have been accused of attacking parish-owned schools in a bid to distract from Government failures to tackle overcrowding in Ireland’s primary schools. Addressing a seminar organised by a campaigning group opposed to religion playing a role in school admissions, Education Minister Richard Bruton announced plans to abolish the so-called ‘baptism rule’ that allows…

The North’s coming election is about a struggle between the two traditions on this island, writes Bishop Donal McKeown Bishop Donal McKeown The entire Brexit project remains a step into the unknown for everybody. Thus we remain unclear as to the possible effects, especially on border counties. But what history tells us is that Belfast,…

Horses and riders attend the annual blessing of farm animals and Italian military horses outside St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The traditional event is sponsored by the Italian livestock association on the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, known as the protector of animals. Photo: CNS

Staff reporter Bishop Donal McKeown has said that British Prime Minister Teresa May’s insistence on pushing ahead with a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ may cause many people in the North to consider the future as part of a united Ireland. In a speech this week, Ms May indicated that she wanted to maintain the common travel…

Staff reporter A family who was advised to let their seriously-ill infant son die in hospital rather than bring him home, has spoken of the joy he gave them through 15 years of life with them after confounding doctors’ predictions. Seán Holland, who died last month, was given just two years to live when he…

Pope Francis has criticised the ‘clericalist’ attitude as “hypocritical” and at odds with Jesus’ example of serving the people of God. In a homily delivered in Casa Santa Marta on January 10, the Pontiff said the attitude communicated by Christ was that “of a servant, and this gave authority…Jesus did not have an allergy to…

EXCLUSIVE The Irish hierarchy will not ask Pope Francis to consider permitting priests who left to get married to return to ministry at a meeting in Rome next week after failing to reach a consensus, The Irish Catholic can reveal. However, Bishop Leo O’Reilly, who first brought the proposal for discussion with his fellow Irish…