Brazilian footballer David Luiz has vowed to abstain from sex until he gets married after being baptised in a team-mate’s swimming pool. The 28-year-old, who met his long-time girlfriend Sara Madeira when they were teenagers, said on his Instagram social media account: “I have chosen to wait.” The Paris Saint-Germain defender also posted a picture…

Paddy Manning, a gay man who has been canvassing for a no vote in the marriage referendum, is pictured with supporters on the ‘no' road show in Kerry.

‘No’ campaigners challenge former President’s statement on marriage referendum

Staff reporter The legal advisor to the ‘no’ campaign group Mothers and Fathers Matter has said the referendum commissioner “seems to be contradicting himself” in his comments on adoption and surrogacy. Last week, Judge Kevin Cross conceded that were the marriage referendum to pass, it would be difficult to pass a law preferring opposite-sex married couples…

A group of hillwalkers from the Diocese of Ferns, including the Riverchapel parish priest, who survived the devastating earthquake in Nepal has organised a fundraising appeal through local parishes. “We are working with Caritas in Nepal, a sister organisation of Trócaire, and 100% of the funds raised will go to projects on the ground,” said…

Fr Martin Browne OSB is pictured after his ordination to the priesthood at Glenstal Abbey in Limerick with (l-r) Bishop Willie Walsh (Bishop Emeritus of Killaloe), Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly (Archbishop of Cashel & Emly) and Archbishop Dermot Clifford (Archbishop Emeritus of Cashel and Emly).  

A statue of Pope St John Paul II must be removed from a public square in the small town of Ploermel in France, according to a court which says it violates the separation of church and state. Taking issue with the “ostentatious” location and size of the 29-foot statue, which shows the saint praying under…

The founder of the liberation theology movement has spoken at the special Vatican conference of the Church’s aid and development agencies, talking about “a poor Church for the poor”. The appearance of Fr Gustavo Gutierrez at the event is being hailed as a symbolic moment of acceptance for the Peruvian friar and the theological movement…

Cuban President Raul Castro gestures toward Pope Francis after a private meeting in the Vatican on May 10. President Castro said he has been so impressed by the Pope that he is tempted to start praying again and return to the Church. He said he would attend all the Pope’s Masses on his September 19-22…

Burundi’s bishops have called for action to be taken to ensure the country’s elections take place safely. In a statement issued in the aftermath of the departure from the country of constitutional court vice-president Sylvere Nimpagaritse, the bishops’ conference urged support for elections so the institutions of state could “enjoy the confidence of the people”.…