Staff reporter Europe has been warned to be “careful” to ensure member states, respect access to abortion following the election of Italy’s likely new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party won the most votes in Italy’s snap-election on Sunday, with Ms Meloni saying they would “govern for everyone” and wouldn’t betray…

Catholics now make up the largest religious identity in the North, but it’s not translating into people coming to church, a well-known Belfast priest has said. Responding to the findings of the 2021 census, Fr Martin Magill told The Irish Catholic that it shows the challenge of faith formation facing the Church in Ireland. The…

Staff reporter Senator Ronán Mullen launched an Oireachtas essay competition on the theme “Parliamentary Politics Matter” for second-level students in Leinster House, September 22. Speaking at the launch, Senator Mullen warned that Ireland faces a time when “many people are wondering about the quality of our politics and the future of democracy itself”. He hoped…

Staff Reporter The Sisters of Mercy will maintain their presence on the board of trustees of Mary Immaculate College, the sisters have told The Irish Catholic. A spokesperson for the sisters confirmed that the order will continue its almost 125-year involvement in the Catholic third-level institute. It comes as speculations circulated that the sisters, who…

Young people in schools, colleges and universities undertake their studies at a time of much “uncertainty, anxiety and hardship”, the Archbishop of Dublin has said. In a homily given at the opening of the academic year Mass at DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus, Archbishop Dermot Farrell said a good leader, who has a heart open to…

The Northern bishops have warned that an absence of an Executive at Stormont is impeding efforts to respond to the cost of living “emergency” and called on parishes and politicians to do what they can to help. In a statement this week the bishops warned that cost increases are creating “life threatening levels of deprivation”.…

Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne Catholic schools have welcomed moves in the budget to ease the cost-of-living crisis. The Government announced on Tuesday that schoolbooks will now be provided by the State at a cost of €43m which is expected to save families €100 per child. There is also more funding for special…

The Knights of Columbanus launched their inaugural Ladies of Faith & Courage Awards in Ely House, Dublin on Saturday September 24, with four “exceptional” women of faith and courage receiving awards. Supreme Knight Brendan McCann said that at the heart of the initiative “the Knights wanted to honour exceptional women of Faith and Courage who…