The next Government must urgently address the “glaring inequalities” that exist when it comes to the funding of faith schools, a senior education chief has warned. John Curtis, General Secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents over 400 voluntary schools across the State, told The Irish Catholic that governments in the past had…

Archbishop Eamon Martin pictured with the boys from the Palestrina Choir of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral after the 1916 Rising State commemoration ceremony at Arbour Hill in Dublin at the weekend. photo: CNS

A prominent priest-sociologist has warned that a number of anti-Catholic media commentators are damaging the public’s opinion of the Church. Jesuit Fr Micheál Mac Gréil told The Irish Catholic that he was “very worried about the atheistic proselytisation going on in Irish society today”. “I believe that proselytising is now not on the side of…

Staff reporter Pope Francis’ representative in Ireland has revealed he was the host of a rock ‘n’ roll radio show during his time in college. Speaking on RTÉ Lyric fm recently, Archbishop Charles Brown confessed he hosted a “very short lived and not very successful” rock ‘n’ roll show on WSND-FM at the University of Notre…

The principal of the Kilkenny based Presentation secondary school whose choir wowed the judges on Britain’s Got Talent has described the “roller-coaster” experience as “amazing”. Shane Hallahan told The Irish Catholic that he was “delighted with the reception the choir received”. “I was over at the filming, along with the school’s deputy principal, Mary Ryan.…

Contract hitch halts audit of Vatican’s finances The first ever audit of Vatican finances by a major global firm has been cut short after – it is understood – the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, raised concerns. The audit by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) was “suspended immediately” on April 12, it has been revealed, when Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu…

Staff reporter The final tranche of reports from the national safeguarding board is expected to be released next week, The Irish Catholic understands. The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) has now completed reviews of safeguarding practice and procedures in almost every Church body that comes under its authority. The few exceptions…

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has expressed hope that new child protection guidelines may help improve damaged relations between priests and bishops. The independent safeguarding watchdog, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC), has been rolling out new standards and more detailed guidelines are expected next month. The new standards…

The Northern bishops have said Christians are feeling a growing ‘chill factor’ in public policy and law in Northern Ireland. In a pastoral reflection on the forthcoming elections to the Northern Assembly, the bishops have listed a number of key issues for Catholic voters to consider, including the right to religious freedom. Funding The bishops…