Former Taoiseach John Bruton said the Government should have given the issue of same-sex marriage more thought before pushing ahead with a referendum. Mr Bruton said he felt more time should have been given to look at the effects of same-sex marriage on children. Speaking on Newstalk’s Moncrieff show on the day of Ireland’s first…

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin has tweeted his joy that both of Ireland’s national soccer teams have qualified for the finals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. “Delighted that both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland are both now through to #EURO2016,” Dr Martin tweeted, continuing, “Well done to all!” The Primate of All Ireland…

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is now spending more than the Department of Social Protection on helping people tackle the cost of “exceptional needs”. Since 2008, the department’s expenditure on exceptional needs has dropped from over €80 million to just €29 million this year. The number of payments each year has also…

Irish couple saved ‘by the grace of God’

Maura Garrihy (Youth Ministry Director, Galway diocese) and Siobhán Bradley (Youth Ministry Director, Tuam archdiocese) were among nine Irish delegates who travelled to Kenya on a Trócaire mission trip last week to meet the family, including Daisy (pictured), who will be the focus of the charity’s 2016 Lenten campaign.

The Bishop of Elphin has welcomed this week’s announcement by the Minister of Education and Skills of major capital funding for the amalgamation of two Athlone schools. Bishop Kevin Doran said the investment “is a significant vote of confidence in the new co-educational second level school which is due to open its doors in September…

A new film on the sex abuse crisis fails to tell the bigger story, writes Phil Lawler

A Dominican run secondary school in Dublin has come under fire for its decision to invite a group which is publicly hostile to Catholicism to address its students. Theologian Dr John Murray warned the principal of St Dominics College, Cabra, to be “cautious” following the school’s decision to reissue a previously cancelled invitation to Atheist…

Lawyer Mushtaq Gill risks his life to defend Pakistani Christians. He spoke to Paul Keenan

Staff reporter Father Ted actor Frank Kelly has said his prayer life consisted of a “constant conversation” with God. The 76-year-old, who is best known for his role as Fr Jack Hackett in the popular television series, said he believed Jesus was God come to Earth and also an “extremely compassionate man”. Speaking on Leap of…