The Parades Commission has ruled that bands taking part in Orange Order parades cannot play music as they pass a Catholic church in Belfast. St Patrick’s Church on Donegall Street has been a flash point for tensions and violence during parades in recent years. The Young Conway Volunteers were filmed walking in circles while playing…

Amy Singleton (14), Joe O'Byrne (13) and Ellen Connolly (14) prepare for The National Brown Bread Baking Competition and Foróige Ireland’s National Junior Baking Competition which will both take place in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in September in association with the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA). If you think you have the…

A pilot programme offered by an initiative of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has seen a number of parishes across the island offer an alternative to the Confirmation pledge this year, which some parishes feel has become “outdated”. The Confirmation Commitment was created by the Pastoral Response to Substance Misuse in answer to requests from parishes…

Sallynoggin parish rallies after episode during adoration

The involvement of Gardaí in political campaigns endangers the public respect the force has long had as an impartial keeper of the peace, Senator Ronan Mullen has said. Describing himself as “alarmed” by photographs showing a uniformed Garda working from a pro same-sex marriage information stand at University College Cork (UCC), he called on the…

Christian football star Tim Tebow is set to make his return to the National Football League (NFL) after signing a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite being out of the league for some time, the 27-year-old remained one of the most popular players around and has a legion of fans who follow him because…

Joy Dunne and Michael Curran at the Mothers and Fathers Matter launch against the Marriage referendum on Merrion Square, Dublin. Photo: John Mc Elroy

The child of an anonymous sperm donor and a children right’s activist who was raised by two mothers are just two of the speakers at a major conference this weekend. ‘Marriage Referendum 2015: An International Conference on Protecting and Nourishing the Family’ is being held at the Marino Institute of Education on Saturday, April 25. …

Same-sex marriage activists have condemned “unreservedly” the tearing down of ‘no’ posters by ‘yes’ campaigners. Yes Equality spokesperson Grainne Healy told The Irish Catholic it “is an offence to take down any poster, we unreservedly condemn any such act”. “The campaign is focused on what this referendum is about… Yes Equality wants to reach out…

A Co. Wicklow woman asked to co-ordinate the work of a Vatican abuse commission, has put her appointment down to the leading example shown by the Irish Church in improving safeguarding standards. Emer McCarthy-Cabrera, who worked at the Vatican Radio English section for 13 years and was tasked with translating Pope Francis’ first words into…