Same sex couples cannnot be denied a blessing, says Catholic Archbishop of DublinA priest is now permitted to give ‘short and simple pastoral blessings – that are neither liturgical nor ritualised – of couples in irregular situations’, Archbishop Farrell saidMon Jan 08 2024 - 16:09
You can’t keep a Cork woman down – especially on Nollaig na mBanIn a Word ... WomenSat Jan 06 2024 - 00:30
It is so easy to disconnect, lose your bearings and yourself in these strange days and nights between Christmas and New YearIn a Word ... SlothSat Dec 30 2023 - 00:30
‘It doesn’t really bother me what my friends think’: Three men considering becoming priests open upLast year 10 seminarians began the academic programme for Ireland’s dioceses, while in 2021 the figure was nineFri Dec 29 2023 - 05:00
What the Dickens? A Christmas Carol is 160 pages of humbug at my expenseIn a Word ... HumbugSat Dec 23 2023 - 00:30
Taoiseach ‘very encouraged’ by Pope Francis’s declaration to allow priests bless same-sex couplesUrsula Halligan of We are Church group says declaration ‘a small step in the right direction’ but that conditions attached are ‘mean, stingy, and grudging’Tue Dec 19 2023 - 18:48
Santy, I want to grow up to be free of cares. Can you arrange it?In a Word... Puddle: Coming towards me was a happy little girl in her shiny new wellingtons with her happy young father. They were passing a puddle and she just jumped right into itSat Dec 16 2023 - 00:30
‘Safe’ abortion zones Bill a threat to freedom of religion, belief and expression, says Catholic Primate‘The imposition of so-called `safe’ abortion zones will further silence the voice of the innocent unborn’Wed Dec 13 2023 - 15:07
World’s Jews are ‘shell-shocked’, annual Hanukkah candle service told in Dublin‘We pray that all the madness can come to an end,’ rabbi tells those gathered at ceremonyTue Dec 12 2023 - 21:05
‘One of the most cruel chapters of history’ unfolding in Gaza, says Church of Ireland Archbishop of DublinMost Rev Michael Jackson launched Shine a Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem appeal last week to raise funds for Al-Ahli Hospital in GazaTue Dec 12 2023 - 17:00
It makes sense some of the best lines about drink come from the sodden Irishry In a Word . . . DrinkSat Dec 09 2023 - 00:30
Ireland’s main churches and Muslim Council oppose legislation on assisted dying`No such thing as a life without meaning or value’, churches sayThu Dec 07 2023 - 14:16
Catholic bishops call on people to oppose racism and misinformation following Dublin riotsBishops warn against `corrosive impact of those who seek to foster division’Thu Dec 07 2023 - 12:10
When we invaded Ballaghaderreen in the 1960s, the town did not suffer blow-ins gladlyIn a Word: InfamySat Dec 02 2023 - 00:30
Letter to Pope Francis says Synod report will ‘wound’ Catholics worldwideFormer president of Ireland Mary McAleese among signatories of letterMon Nov 27 2023 - 21:52
Southside, middle-class parishes contribute most to Dublin Catholic Church Mass collectionsIn total, the archdiocese’s 197 parishes gave €4.29m to Share collection in 2022Sun Nov 26 2023 - 06:00
Interfaith group pleads with Dubliners ‘to treasure the diversity of our city’ Relgious leaders plead for tolerance in wake of violent scenes in capital on ThursdaySat Nov 25 2023 - 16:13
The most lucrative skill in our society? The ability to dispel boredomIn a Word: Top entertainers earn far more than our political leaders, consultants and teachersSat Nov 25 2023 - 00:30
More than €780,000 paid to child sex abuse survivors by Dublin Archdiocese in 2022Annual report says ‘Mass collections have not returned to pre-pandemic levels’ as income for parishes falls €29.6m last yearTue Nov 21 2023 - 16:58
‘Polite sectarianism’ still remains in the North 40 years after massacre of Protestants at prayerFour decades after the sectarian atrocity at a church in Darkley during Northern Ireland’s Troubles, the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of nearby Armagh reflect on the sectarianism of the past and todaySun Nov 19 2023 - 07:30
In a Word ... NovemberScorpios can be ‘complicated, needy and just plain difficult to get along with’. Be careful out there!Sat Nov 18 2023 - 00:30
Utopia is an idea worth clinging to. Otherwise, why get up in the morning?In a Word: Dystopia dominates so much of modern literature, for obvious reasonsSat Nov 11 2023 - 00:30
The mixed-up father of Irish bull was no bird Celebrating when people make dog’s dinners out of metaphors and wind up wishing the cat had got their tonguesSat Nov 04 2023 - 00:30
Diocese of Kilmore in ‘uncharted waters’ due to shortage of priests, bishop saysMichael Hayes says ‘we must act now’ with consultation on reduction in Masses to beginThu Nov 02 2023 - 07:45
Major international award for RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys which exposed sexual abuse in religious-run schoolsProgramme about sexual abuse in Blackrock College of two brothers wins award for investigative work at world’s largest competition for public-service mediaTue Oct 31 2023 - 14:24
Ireland’s gate to hell is in RoscommonDuring Samhain, it was believed fearsome otherworldly creatures emerged from OweynagatSat Oct 28 2023 - 00:30
Abuse survivor Mark Ryan remembered with ‘deep, deep gratitude’Speaking at his memorial service, Minister says Mark Ryan showed ‘enormous courage’ in speaking out about being sexually abused at Blackrock CollegeFri Oct 27 2023 - 20:03
Is the demise of the Irish pub upon us?In a Word... Demise: A relentless series of pub closures represents a fate worse than death for many. At least death is a conclusionSat Oct 21 2023 - 00:30
Bombed Anglican-run hospital in Gaza reopens to treat casualties, Archbishop of Canterbury tells Dublin conferenceArchbishop Justin Welby spoke via video link after travelling to Jerusalem to ‘show sympathy, sit in sorrow’Fri Oct 20 2023 - 17:30
My father believed Dev walked on waterIn a Word: Such was my father’s reverence I thought he might check Dev’s hands for the nails with which he was crucified down the decadesSat Oct 14 2023 - 00:30
Mary McAleese: Vatican authority over Catholics is ‘legally and morally questionable’Dr McAleese criticises church at Spirit Unbounded, a lay-led synodal process taking place in parallel with Vatican Synod on SynodalityFri Oct 13 2023 - 17:00
Taoiseach: ‘No moral equivalence’ between Hamas attacks and Israeli responseIrish religious leaders express ‘shock’ at violence in the Holy LandWed Oct 11 2023 - 13:24
Some schools use restorative justice to deal with past abuse - why not others?Restorative justice is an informal process which focuses on the survivor rather than the offenderTue Oct 10 2023 - 06:30
Words are like leaves? On the contrary, Alexander PopeA letter sent to Hollywood executives in 1934 by a young New York man looking for a job as a screenwriter proves the English satirical poet was fallibleSat Oct 07 2023 - 00:30
Schools abuse: More time requested for scoping inquiry as impact on survivors is ‘far greater than anticipated’The inquiry was due to make recommendations to Government on what form of statutory investigation should take place into the schools by November 7thThu Oct 05 2023 - 11:33
‘The world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing breaking point’, Pope Francis saysPontiff notes that despite representatives of more than 190 countries meeting periodically to address climate change, global emissions continue to increaseWed Oct 04 2023 - 19:22
Ireland spent more than €900m last year helping Ukrainian refugeesIrish Aid annual report discloses €880m was spent in services for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland last year while additional €53m was provided in bilateral assistanceWed Oct 04 2023 - 00:01
Climate change and church inclusiveness top of papal agenda in Rome this week The Pontiff hosts a new synod - one of the most significant of his papacy - starting tomorrow setting out a move away from a hierarchical church to an institution where laity and clergy work togetherTue Oct 03 2023 - 06:00
Jewish community receives expressions of interest in south Dublin synagogue Community opts for ‘wait and see’ approach on building put up for sale in March, says Hebrew Congregation representativeTue Oct 03 2023 - 06:00
Rugby unites Ireland as no other sport can In a Word: It is said that Éamon de Valera came close to winning an Irish capSat Sept 30 2023 - 00:30
In a Word... CatWhat is it about cats that gives them such innate, superior confidence?Sat Sept 30 2023 - 00:30
Ireland’s Jews: a small community that has made a ‘rich contribution’ to Irish lifeChanging patterns of religious practice have created uncertainty over the future of community's Dublin synagogueSun Sept 24 2023 - 06:00
‘Bravado’ major cause of rising roads deaths, says Catholic bishopPatience and courtesy on roads are essential driver-safety skills, says bishopWed Sept 20 2023 - 17:10
The boy was led to the barber’s chair with a docile resignation as of a lamb to the slaughterIn a Word . . . BarberSat Sept 16 2023 - 00:30
Muslims ‘have no place to worship properly’ at TU Grangegorman campusIslamic Society says Technological University’s interfaith rooms are not suitable and that washing facilities, rugs and a separation curtain are neededTue Sept 12 2023 - 14:20
In a Word ... FlagellateWe in northern Europe should get on our knees and thank the great god Geography for our location as climate change takes revengeSat Sept 09 2023 - 00:30
In a Word ... KarmaJudging by the number of August birthdays in our family it would seem November is a favoured month for indulging the family passionSat Sept 02 2023 - 00:30
No women priests in his lifetime, says retired Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid MartinClerical sexual abuse scandals have badly damaged the Catholic Church, in particular ‘the faith of young people, says retired archbishopSat Sept 02 2023 - 00:15
Scoping inquiry has begun interviews with survivors of abuse at schoolsInquiry set up in wake of extensive revelations of clerical child sex abuse at schools run by religious congregationsSun Aug 27 2023 - 08:23
