# Religion

Last year

2022

Voices

Opinion: Iran’s nod to International Human Rights Day was more repression of its people

Brendan McNamara highlights the cases of women activists of Bahá’i faith incarcerated in Iran.

5.5k

Dec 16th 2022, 7:00 AM

# baptism barrier

Dublin archdiocese saw 10% decline in christenings in the year after 'baptism barrier' was removed

Baptisms in Dublin dropped from 13,234 to 11,922 between 2018 and 2019.

In Dublin, the rate of baptisms decreased by roughly 10% between 2018 and 2019.

In that same year, Ireland’s birth rates fell from 61,016 to 59,796, according to the CSO.

Ireland in 2018 amended legislation to remove the so-called “baptism barrier”.

35.8k

Feb 5th 2022, 12:05 AM

All time

# Almighty God

European court rejects challenge to 'almighty God' wording in Presidential oath

The case is being taken by TD Róisín Shortall and others including Senator David Norris.

46.4k

Updated

Nov 18th 2021, 11:30 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Should the president have to swear an oath in the presence of God when being sworn in?

The constitution states that the president when entering office must make a declaration “in the presence of Almighty God”.

45.8k

133

Aug 5th 2021, 11:34 AM

Voices

Opinion: Freedom to practice religion must be respected - including communions and confirmation

There’s a clear economic interest in the State allowing the resumption of economically productive indoor activities, writes Dr Donal Coffey.

20.6k

Aug 3rd 2021, 8:00 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Will you watch a religious service online over Easter?

Under the current Level 5 restrictions, public Mass cannot take place.

45.6k

121

Apr 2nd 2021, 9:25 AM

# Religion

Rural TDs push for limited numbers to be allowed gather in places of worship for Easter

TDs accused the government of being anti-Christian and anti-religion during a Dáil discussion this evening.

15.4k

Mar 25th 2021, 10:10 PM

# Easter mass

Group of TDs and senators call for churches to be allowed to open for limited attendance during Easter week

The ongoing restrictions are an infringement on a person’s right to religious liberty, they said.

37.6k

121

Mar 23rd 2021, 1:34 PM

# Iraq

'I have heard voices of sorrow and loss': Pope Francis leaves Iraq after historic trip

During the first ever papal trip to Iraq, the Pope called for an end to violence and extremism.

8.2k

Mar 8th 2021, 9:41 AM

# Penance

RTÉ to remove 'God is rapist' skit from Player and will review how it made it to air

RTÉ has said the sketch did not meet its broadcast standards.

24.3k

148

Jan 7th 2021, 5:39 PM

# Poll

Poll: Will you attend a religious service this year?

People can attend services online or in person.

35.5k

Dec 24th 2020, 11:02 AM

# Level 3

No changes to limits for weddings and funerals, places of worship to reopen next Tuesday

As we exit Level 5, people will have been wondering about whether they can attend mass or other religious services.

33.0k

Nov 27th 2020, 6:27 PM

# restrictions

Declan Ganley takes High Court action over Level 5 restrictions on attending religious services

Ganley has said the right to attend Mass or a similar religious service is protected under the constitution.

40.1k

Nov 6th 2020, 1:11 PM

RTÉ to broadcast Eid celebration at Croke Park as plans go ahead for 200 guests

Guests at the event will include Minister Roderic O’Gorman, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Michael Jackson, and Rabbi Zalman Lent.

26.9k

Jul 30th 2020, 3:52 PM

Major Muslim celebration to be held in Croke Park in the coming month

Croke Park is the preferred setting for the celebration of the next major event on the Muslim calendar.

10.1k

Jul 13th 2020, 2:14 PM

# Phase 3

NPHET unlikely to budge on 50-person limit for Mass and other indoor gatherings

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said it seems “strange” that churches with a capacity of 1,500 would be subject to this restriction.

17.7k

Jun 22nd 2020, 8:33 PM

# Phase Two

Funerals of up to 25 attendees permitted from Monday as church services set to resume from 29 June

The provision for funerals and religious services was announced by the Taoiseach today.

23.1k

Jun 5th 2020, 3:06 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Should churches and other places of worship be allowed to reopen now?

Government guidelines advise that places of worship should not reopen until 20 July.

42.1k

118

May 29th 2020, 7:50 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Will you watch a religious service online over Easter?

Many people are finding alternative ways to worship amid the Covid-19 crisis.

56.2k

205

Apr 9th 2020, 9:38 AM

# RTÉ

RTÉ appoints Ailbhe Conneely as its new social affairs and religion correspondent

The role will involve reporting and providing analysis of social affairs and religion issues across RTÉ News channels.

54.2k

Mar 13th 2020, 6:08 PM

Voices

Opinion: Religion is a choice - not an obligation. Let's make religious classes opt-in

Our schools may be Catholic, but young Irish families, increasingly, are not, writes David Graham of Education Equality.

27.1k

252

Feb 5th 2020, 6:20 AM

# Amen

'Father, release his power' - Evangelical leaders pray for Donald Trump in Miami megachurch

Trump spoke to more than 5,000 Christians at the event last night.

52.7k

Jan 4th 2020, 12:27 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Will you attend a religious service over the Christmas period?

Many people do, even if they don’t normally attend during the year.

32.8k

105

Dec 22nd 2019, 11:30 AM

# Religion

Plans to modernise chaplaincies at third level institutions have stagnated, despite major review

A 2015 review found several institutions had no public appointment or tendering procedure for the employment of chaplains.

13.5k

Dec 3rd 2019, 12:05 AM

# evidence

Race, religion and prejudice: The issues raised at Ireland’s first FGM trial

A married couple were yesterday convicted of allowing female genital mutilation to be carried out on their daughter.

12.7k

Nov 29th 2019, 6:15 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Do you pray?

Five people have been made saints today by the catholic church.

37.5k

130

Oct 13th 2019, 11:52 AM

# joining the ranks

A British cardinal who helped found UCD is to become a saint today

Pope Francis will create five new saints today.

19.1k

101

Oct 13th 2019, 8:46 AM

# mass appeal

Older people who go to Mass have better mental health, according to new Irish research

It found that those who attended religious services regularly reported lower depressive symptoms.

15.9k

Aug 1st 2019, 3:57 PM

# Family Law

Court decides child in foster care can go to Church of Ireland school against wishes of Catholic parents

The child’s parents did not consent to her attendance at the school.

39.8k

Jul 8th 2019, 6:20 AM

Voices

Opinion: If my family pet died I would hold a religious end-of-life ceremony

Pope John Paul II said that ‘animals possess a soul’ and are ‘as near to God as men are,’ writes Diarmuid Pepper.

23.6k

Jun 7th 2019, 7:00 AM

# LGBT Rights

Mormon church to allow baptism for children of LGBT parents

The church added it wanted to “reduce the hate and contention so common today”.

10.5k

Apr 5th 2019, 2:27 PM

# sacrilege

Catholic priests in Poland burn Harry Potter and Twilight books

Photos show priests carrying a basket of books and other items including an African-styled face mask.

83.8k

Apr 1st 2019, 12:46 PM

# Asylum Seekers

Hiding the fact they're gay and being harassed by other residents: People talk about life in Direct Provision

“One of the guys was very annoying and used to harass me, he always tried to touch me.”

23.2k

Mar 10th 2019, 6:59 AM

# Your Say

Poll: How do you feel about religious symbols in hospitals?

A new report has suggested that they be removed if a patient requests it.

52.1k

173

Feb 28th 2019, 9:29 PM

# Josepha Madigan

Culture minister: 'Glass ceilings are being broken in many sectors - so why not in the Church?'

The event had to be rescheduled after complaints made to the original venue because of the minister’s role in the Repeal campaign.

14.5k

103

Feb 12th 2019, 8:03 AM

Voices

Opinion: Milestone ceremonies provide an alternative for children not making their communion

A humanist alternative to the First Holy Communion means that non-Catholic kids don’t miss out on having a special day, writes Tony O’Donohoe.

30.6k

208

Feb 8th 2019, 7:00 AM

# Pope

Pope admits that priests and bishops sexually abused nuns

His admission followed a rare outcry last week from the Vatican’s women’s magazine over the sexual abuse of nuns.

28.7k

Feb 6th 2019, 3:30 PM

# Our Lady of Lourdes

Most people don't support changing hospital names to remove religious references

Locals recently protested the proposed name change of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

23.7k

120

Jan 14th 2019, 12:05 AM

# Education

Almost 4% increase in children enrolled in multi-denominational schools

Education Minister Joe McHugh said the figures reflect the changes taking place in the patronage of Irish schools.

11.3k

Dec 27th 2018, 11:34 AM

Voices

Fr Richard Gibbons: 'When was the last time you did something truly selfless for someone else, even if they didn’t deserve it?'

Fr Gibbons – of Knock – writes about finding the true meaning of Christmas even when things feel hard.

16.0k

Dec 24th 2018, 5:30 PM