Mass must come before 'non-essential' business - Church The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has said he will continue to emphasise to the Government the importance of the earliest possible return to worship. Ireland • 31 Mar 21
French cardinal convicted over sex abuse cover-up French cardinal Philippe Barbarin has been convicted of helping covering up child sexual abuse and handed a six-month suspended jail term. Europe • 07 Mar 19
Religion as school admission criteria is outlawed Minister for Education Richard Bruton has signed an order to outlaw the use of religion as a criteria for primary school admissions in almost all … Education • 03 Oct 18
US cardinal resigns over sex abuse allegations Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a US cardinal following "credible" allegations that he abused a teenager almost 50 years ago. religion • 28 Jul 18
Some State schools outsourcing RSE to Catholic agency One of the country's largest primary schools is among a number of State multi-denominational schools that have outsourced teaching about relationships and sexuality to a … Education • 02 May 18
Enrolment in Catholic schools continues to increase The number of children attending Catholic primary schools here continues to grow, and has grown more strongly this year compared to any other sector, according … News • 27 Feb 18
Pope orders takeover of Catholic society in Peru Pope Francis has ordered a Vatican takeover of an elite Catholic society in Peru whose founder is accused of sexually and physically abusing children and … Pope Francis • 11 Jan 18
Cardinals back pope after attacks by conservatives Senior cardinals from around the world have defended Pope Francis against a spate of recent attacks from conservatives challenging his authority. News • 13 Feb 17
Pope unhurt after fall during mass in Poland Pope Francis was unhurt after he stumbled down a step on an altar while celebrating mass in the Polish city of Czeztochowa, but quickly got … News • 28 Jul 16
Experts contradict Taoiseach on school admission A group of constitutional law experts have said they see no constitutional impediment to changing the law to ensure that children have equal access to … News • 22 Jun 16
Equality for women leading issue at synod A synod in the Diocese of Limerick has heard how the Catholic Church needs to apologise to women to end centuries of treating them as … News • 10 Apr 16
Pope calls for openness to 'imperfect' Catholics The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has described Pope Francis’s new guidelines on family values as grounded in reality. News • 08 Apr 16
Catholic school offers alternative ethics class A Catholic primary school offering an alternative non-Catholic ethics and religious beliefs programme to pupils has said schools interested in the idea should "go for … News • 27 Jan 16
No convictions over 53 allegations of church abuse The Catholic Church's child protection watchdog has found that 53 allegations of child abuse against 44 members of three religious orders have resulted in no … News • 02 Dec 15
Pope Francis calls for end to fundamentalism Pope Francis called for an end to all forms of fundamentalism as he began a three-day visit to Turkey. News • 28 Nov 14
Catholic synod vote described as 'disappointing' Catholic gay rights groups have described the rejection by bishops of proposals for wider acceptance of gay people as "very disappointing". News • 20 Oct 14
Clergy 'perplexed' over Vatican document A number of Catholic cardinals and bishops attending a synod on the Catholic Family have said they are "perplexed" by this week’s conciliatory discussion document … News • 16 Oct 14
Catholic Archbishop apologises for €1.6m mansion The Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta has apologised for building a $2.2m (€1.6m) mansion to use as his home, a move that made him the object … News • 01 Apr 14
Donal McKeown appointed Bishop of Derry Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Conor Dr Donal McKeown has been appointed as the new Catholic Bishop of Derry. News • 25 Feb 14
Catholic marriage service announces job cuts The Catholic Bishops' Marriage Care Service, Accord, has announced it is to implement compulsory redundancies for approximately one-third of its staff. News • 19 Dec 13
23 multi-denominational schools recommended A Department of Education report has recommended the establishment of 23 multi-denominational primary schools across the country to meet what it calls immediate parental demand. News • 02 Apr 13
Cardinal apologises for paedophilia comments A South African cardinal has apologised for offending victims of child abuse after he described paedophilia as an illness and not a crime. News • 18 Mar 13
Pope condemns slaughter of 'defenceless' in Syria Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his twice-yearly ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing and message to tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square and … News • 26 Dec 12
Census shows fall in Protestant majority in NI The gap between the proportion of Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland has narrowed, according to new census figures. News • 11 Dec 12
Catholic bishops respond to abortion report Ireland’s Catholic bishops have criticised the failure of the Government to ask the Expert Group on Abortion to consider the option of holding a referendum … News • 06 Dec 12