Church leaders have warned that a constitutional amendment to the meaning of marriage would have “profound implications” to the understanding of family and parenthood, and urged people to “reflect deeply” before casting their vote in the referendum in May. Speaking on behalf of the Irish bishops, Archbishop Eamon Martin insisted that because marriage is of…

A leading moral theologian has defended Bishop Kevin Doran’s remarks that the family is a “building block” of society. Dr Suzanne Mulligan, however, called on the bishop to clarify whether he was speaking in a personal capacity or on behalf of the Church regarding some of his more “unhelpful” statements. The lecturer in Moral Theology…

An Independent TD has raised concerns that a Bill to ensure the implementation of same-sex marriage if the referendum is passed will not include a conscientious objection clause. Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath said he was “not at all confident that the Bill will provide for conscientious objection to safeguard people, businesses and other institutions who…

Negotiations between Kylemore Abbey and a top Catholic University in the US to establish a third level educational facility at the Benedictine monastery are “close” to reaching an agreement. Kylemore Abbey Abbess Sr Maire Hickey, OSB, told The Irish Catholic she was “engaged in ongoing negotiations” with the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Indiana,…

Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has asked the State-funded Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to justify their claim that same-sex marriage is a human right. Mr Keaveney, who himself has “no ideological opposition” to same-sex marriage, has also written to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald seeking answers on whether the body can truly be…

Diocese faces future with fewer priests