A pilot programme offered by an initiative of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has seen a number of parishes across the island offer an alternative to the Confirmation pledge this year, which some parishes feel has become “outdated”. The Confirmation Commitment was created by the Pastoral Response to Substance Misuse in answer to requests from parishes…

The involvement of Gardaí in political campaigns endangers the public respect the force has long had as an impartial keeper of the peace, Senator Ronan Mullen has said. Describing himself as “alarmed” by photographs showing a uniformed Garda working from a pro same-sex marriage information stand at University College Cork (UCC), he called on the…

Staff Reporter Irish American philanthropist and billionaire Chuck Feeney is a key funder for the ‘yes’ campaign on same-sex marriage, it has been revealed. Feeney’s Atlantic Philanthropies have committed $475,000 (€443,612) to Marriage Equality Ltd, the main group dealing specifically with the issue, according to reports. In addition to funding Marriage Equality, Atlantic has funded…

Same-sex marriage activists have condemned “unreservedly” the tearing down of ‘no’ posters by ‘yes’ campaigners. Yes Equality spokesperson Grainne Healy told The Irish Catholic it “is an offence to take down any poster, we unreservedly condemn any such act”. “The campaign is focused on what this referendum is about… Yes Equality wants to reach out…

Joy Dunne and Michael Curran at the Mothers and Fathers Matter launch against the Marriage referendum on Merrion Square, Dublin. Photo: John Mc Elroy