Farmers are heavily in favour of age-restrictions on pornography, with only 3% believing there should be free access. An Irish Examiner/ICMSA poll of farmers and farming families found that 72% believe strongly there should be age restrictions, with 14% slightly agreeing. Support for the restriction was similar across all age groups, peaking among people aged…

Mothers have a vital role in children’s mental health and families staying together, new research suggests. According to a study by the UK’s Marriage Foundation in conjunction with Lincoln University, a mother’s happiness is nearly twice as important as a father’s when it comes to family life and the chances of a couple staying together.…

Reforms to RTÉ should not come at a cost to the national broadcaster’s regional public service role, Senator Rónán Mullen has said. Responding to statements that RTÉ is considering selling its Cork Leeside studio, the independent senator said this looked like “a calculated act of limited self-preservation for a model of operations that is already…

Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin will lead a special Christian Solidarity Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from February 16, 2020 for eight nights. Visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem and the other sites associated with the life of Jesus, the trip will be a unique opportunity to experience the Holy Land with experienced guides. Co-ordinated by The…

The Irish Catholic Editorial view   Marches and demonstrations in the North have long been controversial and divisive. The ‘marching season’ was often a byword for violence and tension between the two communities. That’s what makes the huge pro-life demonstrations in Belfast at the weekend all the more remarkable. On Friday night, some 20,000 people…

Distributors are “freezing out” promoters of a major pro-life film, according to promoters, making it likely many Irish cinema-goers won’t be able to view it locally. UnPlanned has already been viewed by about two million people across 12 countries and tells the story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and her decision…

The Church should fork out some of its “vast tracts” of land to help curb the country’s housing crisis, one of Ireland’s most well-known priests has said. Social activist Fr Peter McVerry SJ told this newspaper that while the Church is not responsible for solving the severe lack of housing across the country, it can…

Parishioners need to be helped realise the strains clergy of all denominations face, a prominent Belfast priest has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of a conference in Lisburn next month on ‘Pastoring the Pastor’, Fr Martin McGill said it’s vital to let people understand the challenges today’s clergy face. “We need to raise…