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Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said there are many challenges facing families today, including drugs, violence and homelessness

Archbishop says action needed on homelessness

The Archbishop of Dublin has said the homelessness situation in Ireland is a big emergency.

President Michael D Higgins was speaking at an event to mark National Care Leavers' Day

Higgins calls for child aftercare legislation

President Michael D Higgins has said it would be good planning on the part of the Government to allocate resources to roll out legislation ensuring every child leaving state care will be given an aftercare plan.

News • 21 Oct 16

56% of marriages were Catholic ceremonies in 2015

2015 saw highest number of marriages since 2008

Last year saw the highest number of marriages in Ireland since 2008, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

News • 20 Oct 16

David Stanton said a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion strategy will be completed shortly

Roma community urged to join Irish clubs, groups

Integration Minister David Stanton is encouraging the Roma population to get involved with local clubs and organisations, in an effort to improve integration and inclusion in Irish society.

News • 19 Oct 16

Vladimir Putin said he values his relations with France

Putin accuses France of trickery over UN proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused France of deliberately luring Russia into vetoing a United Nations resolution on Syria, and questioned whether France was doing the bidding of the United States.

News • 12 Oct 16

Mohammad Hasamur Rahman, 32, poses for photographs with his new bride, 15-year-old Nasoin Akhter in Bangladesh last year

Report says new child bride every seven seconds

One girl under 15 is married every seven seconds, according to a report by Save the Children, with girls as young as ten married off - often to much older men - in countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, India and Somalia.

News • 11 Oct 16

Pope Francis meets Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at the Vatican

Pope, Anglican leader vow joint action on poverty

The head of the worldwide Anglican Communion has praised Pope Francis for showing solidarity with migrant people and others who suffer exclusion and poverty.

News • 06 Oct 16

On 3 March, a Day of Prayer for the survivors and victims of clerical sexual abuse will be held

Day of Prayer for clerical abuse survivors planned

In a radical policy shift, the Catholic bishops in Ireland are to organise a Day of Prayer for the survivors and victims of clerical sexual abuse on the first Friday of Lent next year.

News • 06 Oct 16

Archbishop Eamon Martin called on everyone to preserve the dignity and sanctity of human life in all its stages and conditions

No such thing as limited abortion, says archbishop

The Catholic Primate of All Ireland has said that, from a moral standpoint, there is no such thing as 'limited' abortion.

News • 02 Oct 16

Bishop Liam MacDaid is a native of Bundoran in Co Donegal

Bishop of Clogher retires due to ill health

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Liam MacDaid due to ill health.

News • 01 Oct 16

A large proportion of those accessing emergency accommodation services were aged between 25 and 44

6,500 accessed emergency accommodation in August

More than 6,500 people were accessing emergency accommodation around the country at the end of August.

News • 01 Oct 16

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said Travellers remain among the most disadvantaged educationally

Martin: Schools must focus more on Travellers

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has called on Catholic schools to address the educational needs of Travellers "more effectively".

News • 27 Sep 16

Pope Francis (R) greets participants in a day of prayer for peace in Assisi, Italy

Pope: Refugee refusals done like turn of TV remote

Pope Francis has accused those who frequently reject refugees fleeing war of silencing their cries for help as coldly as they would flick a television remote.

News • 20 Sep 16

The minister said the State has a responsibility to help people in incredibly vulnerable positions

32% rise in numbers sleeping rough 'shocking'

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has described a 32% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin city centre as shocking.

News • 20 Sep 16

Merchants Quay Ireland said that last year just over 7,500 people used its homeless support services

Homelessness and drug use at 'unprecedented' level

Homelessness and drug use has reached unprecedented levels on our streets, according to a new report.

News • 16 Sep 16

The Care Leavers' Network is an advocate group for people who were in institutional care or other forms of out-of-home care

Call to ensure courts hear from children

An advocate for young people in care has urged the Government to allocate resources to enable the courts to meet their new mandate to hear the voice of the child.

News • 16 Sep 16

Pope Francis announced in June that members of the church hierarchy can now be dismissed from office if they fail to display the diligence required of them to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected

Church prayer day for clerical abuse victims

Pope Francis has announced plans for a worldwide day of prayer for the victims of sexual abuse as proposed by his child protection panel as well as the setting up of a website to help protect children and vulnerable adults.

News • 12 Sep 16

Benedict described difficult moments during his eight years as pope

Former pope Benedict says he struggled in role

Former pope Benedict has acknowledged he was a better professor than a leader, revealing in a new book that he sometimes struggled to take decisions during his time in charge of the scandal-plagued Vatican.

News • 09 Sep 16

Focus Ireland said the risk of children being forced to sleep rough is an everyday reality

Focus Ireland warns homelessness crisis deepening

The number of people using Focus Ireland homelessness services is at an all-time high, according to its annual report.

News • 01 Sep 16

Peter McVerry at the St Agatha's Court redevelopment in Dublin, which will provide 11 units for the homeless

Charity says homelessness problem 'out of control'

The chief executive of one of Ireland's leading homelessness charities has said the "problem of homelessness is now out of control."

News • 30 Aug 16

NI bishop condemns damage to Jewish graves

A Catholic bishop has condemned the destruction of 13 Jewish graves in Belfast as shameful.

News • 28 Aug 16

Two Tunisian women swim at a beach near Tunis, one wearing a burkini

Burkini creator says bans good for sales

Burkini bans in France have boosted sales and interest in the full-bodied Islamic swimsuit, particularly from non-Muslim women, the Australian credited with creating the design said.

News • 23 Aug 16

Increasing controversy in France over burqinis

French mayor bans burqinis from Cannes beaches

The mayor of Cannes has banned the wearing of burqinis - full-body swimsuits - on the beaches of the French Riviera resort famous for its annual film festival.

News • 12 Aug 16

Derry said a final farewell to Bishop Edward Daly today

Funeral hears of Bishop Daly's outstanding courage

Mourners at the funeral of Bishop Edward Daly have heard that he was passionate in his struggle against violence and injustice from all quarters.

News • 11 Aug 16

Bishop Daly was filmed waving a bloody handkerchief on Bloody Sunday

'Fearless peacebuilder' Bishop Edward Daly dies

Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has paid tribute to "fearless peacebuilder" Bishop Edward Daly who has died aged 82.

News • 09 Aug 16

Religious and Social Affairs