President Michael D. Higgins’ wife has attracted sharp criticism for her “inappropriate” comments supporting abortion in the case of unborn children diagnosed with life limiting conditions. Following a debate by midwifery students in Trinity College Dublin about Ireland’s maternity care, Sabina Higgins gave an unscripted speech in which she described circumstances in which a woman…

If Christian bakers were guilty of discrimination for refusing to make a pro-same-sex marriage cake, the law itself is at fault, the North’s Attorney General has said. Attorney General John Larkin was speaking on the second day of Daniel and Amy McArthur’s appeal against a May 2015 decision by Belfast’s County Court which found that…

Bishop Michael Smith will lead a group of over 50 young people from the Diocese of Meath to the World Youth Day gathering in Krakow next July. Some of the participants took part in a preparation day in Mullingar on Sunday, organised by Fr Kevin Heery (Navan) and Fr Robert McGivney (Mullingar).

Faith-based education will be an “inevitable casualty” if the Government pushes ahead with a proposed new programme to teach about beliefs from a secular perspective, a leading expert on religious education has warned. A consultation document for the proposed Education about Religions and Beliefs and Ethics programme suggests an agenda that “should be of the…

Clonard Monastery in Belfast is bringing the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help out into the community in anticipation of the arrival of the icon pilgrimage this weekend and to build awareness and devotion of the image. The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, newly written in Poland and blessed by Pope Francis,…

Fr Tom Mangan, PP Donoghmore/Knockea/Roxboro in Co. Limerick with Frank and Brid Laing, Noel Hartigan, Brian McMahon, Fiona Godrey, Miriam Gallgher and Paula Ni Dhonaile, getting ready for their skydive which takes place on May 22 as a fundraiser for improvements to the parish parochial house. Photo: Brendan Gleeson

Europe needs a “memory transfusion” if it is to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, and to pursue a renewed dream of Europe based on Europe’s deep roots, rather than “the shifting sands of immediate results”, Pope Francis has said. Speaking at a ceremony to mark his being awarded the Charlemagne Prize for service…

Staff Reporter Screening for Down Syndrome in unborn infants should be reconsidered, comedy actress and writer Sally Phillips has said. Responding to the introduction of new screening methods, the Miranda star said on BBC Radio 4’s Today show, “as a parent of someone with Down Syndrome I find this arms race for new technologies a bit…

‘Beatnik Jesuit friend’ Fr Daniel Berrigan lived the resurrection Fr Daniel Berrigan SJ, whose protests against government policies earned him multiple prison sentences, was remembered during his funeral Mass as a “fierce, mischievous visionary”, a “Beatnik Jesuit friend”, a priest who “taught the sacrament of resistance” and a loving uncle ruled by faith, not fear. More than 800 people packed New York’s Church…

The North’s most successful schools are all Catholic, according to new league tables based on exam results. The top 11 spots in the annual review, compiled by the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, reveal that Catholic schools outshine state-controlled schools when it comes to A-levels sat during the previous year. The top performing grammar was St Dominic’s…