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
Catholic Church
‘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
I’m not really religious but I still pray to St Anthony when something is lost
This might just be an ingrained echo of a Catholic upbringing but I also find it comforting
When Soline Humbert announced her vocation to be a priest, she got threats and abuse
Rite & Reason: Humbert recounts how one priest shouted to her face: 'Women priests? Over my dead body!'
Heather Humphreys would bring this one vital quality to the role of president
The problem is, judging by her performance in this week’s television debate, she doesn’t believe in herself
Lea Ypi on Albania’s archives: ‘You might find something horrible on a person you’re extremely attached to’
Compelled to tell her grandmother’s true story, the academic realised she’d have to confront the records of the old state security and secret police force
Where next for the conservative right after Maria Steen’s failed presidential bid?
There seems to be little hope of her heralding a revival of social conservatism given that her political cohort isn’t even comfortable calling itself ‘conservative’
Ireland has its first new Benedictine monastery for women since medieval times
Rite & Reason: Exile, endurance, resilience run through the story of Connemara’s Benedictine sisters
Idea that Irish schoolchildren can simply ‘opt out’ of religion class is a myth
What we will have now is teachers saying 'Christians believe Jesus was the son of God' in one lesson, followed by 'Jesus was the son of God' in the next
‘We need more priests’: Catholic bishop welcomes 13 seminarians into training
This year’s intake brings to 77 the number of men being training for priesthood 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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