The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began yesterday (Wednesday) with an official inauguration service at the Church of Ireland parish in Taney in south Dublin. This year the event occurs while the Catholic bishops are in Rome at their ad limina meeting with the Pope, so no Catholic bishops will be present at ecumenical…

The North’s coming election is about a struggle between the two traditions on this island, writes Bishop Donal McKeown Bishop Donal McKeown The entire Brexit project remains a step into the unknown for everybody. Thus we remain unclear as to the possible effects, especially on border counties. But what history tells us is that Belfast,…

Fine Gael have been accused of attacking parish-owned schools in a bid to distract from Government failures to tackle overcrowding in Ireland’s primary schools. Addressing a seminar organised by a campaigning group opposed to religion playing a role in school admissions, Education Minister Richard Bruton announced plans to abolish the so-called ‘baptism rule’ that allows…

Horses and riders attend the annual blessing of farm animals and Italian military horses outside St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The traditional event is sponsored by the Italian livestock association on the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, known as the protector of animals. Photo: CNS

Staff reporter Bishop Donal McKeown has said that British Prime Minister Teresa May’s insistence on pushing ahead with a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ may cause many people in the North to consider the future as part of a united Ireland. In a speech this week, Ms May indicated that she wanted to maintain the common travel…

Staff reporter A family who was advised to let their seriously-ill infant son die in hospital rather than bring him home, has spoken of the joy he gave them through 15 years of life with them after confounding doctors’ predictions. Seán Holland, who died last month, was given just two years to live when he…

Staff reporter Ireland’s most senior Churchman has assured priests that their dedication and resilience in difficult circumstances does not go unnoticed by the hierarchy and is a key point for discussion during meetings in Rome. Speaking at the opening Mass for the bishops’ ad limina pilgrimage to Rome, during which they will meet with Pope…

Northern pro-lifers are determined to make the protection of unborn children a key issue in the North’s coming election. Northern Secretary James Brokenshire announced elections for a new Assembly on March 2, following the collapse of the Executive after the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister and the refusal of Sinn Féin to…

Corrymeela asked voters to consider ‘a worse alternative’ Inclusion and cooperation should be priorities in the North’s upcoming elections, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation centre has said. In a statement following the announcement of the March 2 election, Corrymeela community leader Pádraig Ó Tuama said that while reconciliation is difficult, “the alternative is worse”. Insisting…

If you can help young migrants, you should do so immediately, Dromore’s Bishop John McAreavey has urged communities. Welcoming the Pope’s message for 2017’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Dr McAreavey, who chairs the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, praised the Pontiff’s focused on the theme of ‘Child…