Change to Catholic patronage of Irish schools is slow to come – for good reason
Rite & Reason: The Department of Education and Youth is currently running an online survey of parents and guardians
Catholic Church
Converts by Melanie McDonagh: Entertaining exploration of those who turned to Rome
Catholicism provided greater certainty than the Church of England, which was considered a wishy-washy institution by many in the 20th century
Beneath the Surface by Dr Harry Barry: An engaging quest for healing and meaning
Exploring an unromantic, multi-faceted idea of service to our fellow humans
Ireland’s Catholic bishops criticised for silence on Vatican extending ban on women deacons
Group calls it ‘shocking’ that Vatican commission believes ‘masculinity of Christ is integral part of sacramental identity’
Parents upset after school declined hall request for secular event on first Communion day
Co Wicklow school later gave permission for use of hall, but parents involved have not decided whether to use it
The immaculate misconception: today’s Catholic feast day is not what you think it is
It is frequently assumed to be about the conception of Jesus to a supposed virgin. Not so
A Divine Calling: One woman’s priestly vocation
Soline Humbert’s spiritual autobiography makes a strong case for women’s ordination in the Catholic Church
No women deacons in the Catholic Church, Vatican Commission decides
Argument against female deacons includes wish to preserve ‘masculinity of Christ’ and of those who receive holy orders
We need secular schools, but also schools that believe in what the nativity play embodies
Freedom of religion is mostly construed as freedom from religion, but it also encompasses the right to practise
‘We are all very lucky that he is visiting’: Lebanon welcomes Pope Leo
Pontiff hails country as one where ‘peace is a desire and a vocation’ where its people have acted as peacemakers
A 34-year secret shrouded in shame paved the way to teach children about the horrors of our past
For 34 years Madeleine Walsh lived with her secret in shame... Now she wants schoolchildren to learn about the horrors of Ireland’s past, writes Aoife Kelleher
A short document with an enduring message: we belong to a single family with one origin and goal
Rite & Reason: Sixty years on, Nostra Aetate is as relevant as ever
Pope Leo condemns violence in name of religion at landmark event in Turkey
Pontiff urges Christian leaders to overcome centuries of heated divisions
Enoch Burke’s ferocious desire for martyrdom has roots in Irish life
Catholic anti-divorce crusaders deliberately made outrageous analogies and used modern tactics, too
Pope Leo’s first trip outside Italy as pontiff is diplomatically delicate
Trip to Turkey and Lebanon could be revealing about the character and style of this still-elusive new pope
Mother and baby home records held in database ‘not fit for purpose’
Tusla warned Government that system would require ‘significant’ redevelopment to ensure preservation
Dublin’s Catholic Archdiocese faces financial woes as priests age and Mass numbers decline
Country’s biggest archdiocese says its cash reserves will be exhausted by 2041 and it is facing 70% fewer priests
Testimony: Aoife Kelleher persuasively makes case for further airing of Magdalene injustices
Gardaí often returned escapees to the laundries as if the women, who had committed no offence, were on the run
Pope Leo designates St Mary’s Pro Cathedral as Dublin’s Catholic cathedral
It brings the number of cathedrals in Dublin to three, with the two others belonging to the Church of Ireland
Presbyterian Church ignored concerns over its child safeguarding policies, expert says
Ian Elliott says he offered advice in 2023 to church, where moderator is now to resign
New Bishop of Raphoe named by Pope Leo
Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll to take up position in the Co Donegal diocese
Catholic bishop investigated over sexual abuse claims in first of its kind Spanish case
Rafael Zornoza alleged to have abused man between ages of 14 and 21 with accusations dating back to mid-1990s
Why should Catherine Connolly have to take a religious oath to become president?
Rite & Reason: Ireland has become increasing secular in recent years with same-sex marriage, divorce and other human rights well established
Sr Stan asked a question in 1985 – it still hasn’t been answered
At the time of her death, more than 16,000 people were in emergency accommodation across the country
‘I see mistakes celebrating Mass in Ireland’: The new parishioners filling Dublin pews
The ethnic diversity of Mass-goers and the clergy is growing
Sr Stanislaus Kennedy: An ‘intransigent woman’ with an impulse to help those in distress
Obituary: Her work in favour of the marginalised meant she often clashed with the Catholic Church and drove her to found Focus Ireland
The Catholic thinker behind JD Vance’s religious conversion
Unthinkable: French philosopher René Girard developed a theory of scapegoating. The US vice president has weaponised it
May McGee’s achievement meant couples could have healthy sexual relationships without fear
In The Irish Times library, I remember looking for cuttings about contraception to find they were filed under ‘Crimes sexual’ - which was the stark truth at the time
More than 50 years on, The Exorcist still possesses the United States
US Letter: Scenes were filmed in Washington DC, where the 1973 movie is celebrated to this day
Man who says he was abused by priest settles legal action for six-figure sum
He sued Diocese of Down and Connor over alleged abuse in early 1970s
Death announced of Mary ‘May’ McGee who won historic Supreme Court contraception case
Landmark 1973 case found married couples had right to make private decisions on family planning
Lithuania: A History by Richard Butterwick - Meticulous chronicle explains so much
A superb piece of scholarship that distils more than 1,000 tumultuous years into a coherent narrative
Joseph O’Connor on celebrating a Kerry priest who became a war-time hero
He assembled a network of activists that hid thousands of fugitives, including many escaped Allied prisoners of war
Diocese of Dromore to pay £1.2m to five who alleged abuse by priest at school
Former St Colman’s College pupils to receive written apologies from head of Catholic Church in Ireland
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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