The head of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) has defended the “core role” of religion in faith schools amid renewed suggestions that Religious Education could be side-lined in a curriculum shake-up. With the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment consultation ongoing towards a new primary curriculum, reports over the Christmas period suggested that…

Immediate action is needed to protect families at risk of losing their homes through repossession, following comments from the Master of the High Court, leading campaigners have urged. Edmund Honohan, who has previously called on the Government to ‘nationalise’ repossessed homes and use them as social housing, said this week that thousands of repossession orders…

Limerick city has been lauded as an exemplar of “active nonviolence” during New Year peace messages. As Irish bishops issued homilies for the 50th World Day of Peace on January 1, and after a year of extreme gangland violence in some quarters, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick hailed the role of nonviolence in a renewed…

‘Zero tolerance’ is key to child protection in the Irish Church and should not be confused with how priests are handled when out of ministry, the sole Irish member of Pope Francis’ child protection commission has said. Commenting on the Pope’s call to bishops on the Feast of the Holy Innocents for the Church to…

The leaders of Ireland’s main Christian denominations have joined in praying for a year in which people remember both God and neighbour. In a joint New Year’s message, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Rt Rev John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Rev. Bill Mullally, President…

Pope gives green light in strict circumstances In a dramatic move, Pope Francis has given the green light for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion under certain limited circumstances after they discuss the matter with their priest. Even then, the couple most likely will have to receive Communion in private so as not to…

Rugby legend Dan Carter has paid tribute to deceased Kerry teenager Donal Walsh as a “truly inspirational” young man. Donal Walsh lost his brave battle with cancer in May 2013 after coming to national fame for campaigning against youth suicide and his parents continue to spread his message through the Donal Walsh #LiveLife foundation. Advance…

At the start of the month 5th and 6th class girls from St Joseph’s primary school, Templemore, Co. Tipperary along with their teacher Ms Greed, principal Ms Foley and chaplain Fr Dominic Meehan embarked on a ‘spiritual’ school tour to mark the jubilee Year of Mercy. The day began with 10am parish Mass at Holycross…

The Triduum celebration for the Year of Mercy in Enniscorthy Cathedral in Co. Wexford drew large numbers of people daily from all corners of the Diocese of Ferns. Organised by the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the celebration filled the cathedral every day for morning Mass and queues formed to receive the Sacrament of Confession, which was…

In a joint message for Holy Week and Easter, the two archbishops of Armagh have asked that all Christian will “show something of  the immeasurable mercy of God” in their daily lives.  In the message, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Richard Clarke point out that while this is a particular Year of Mercy in the…