# Religion

All time

# 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

# kiev

Ukraine Orthodox priests to establish church independent from Russia

Ukrainian authorities hope it will be a further step out of Russia’s orbit.

9.0k

Dec 15th 2018, 10:59 AM

# well holy god

Letter from Albert Einstein calling God a 'product of human weaknesses' sells for record €2.55 million

The letter was written in 1954 to philosopher Eric Gutkind.

22.7k

Dec 5th 2018, 8:24 AM

# Blasphemy

Who is Asia Bibi and why has her case sparked furious protests?

There have been calls for the Pakistani woman to be offered asylum, including in Ireland.

30.8k

Nov 24th 2018, 9:00 PM

# what to believe

Laura Whitmore will explore the subject of religion in a new BBC radio Christmas special

The TV presenter said she keeps a bottle of holy water on her dressing table.

2.0k

Nov 22nd 2018, 10:14 AM

# Atheism

These are the best and worst countries in the world to be an atheist

The International Humanist and Ethical Union launched its annual Freedom of Thought report this morning.

47.2k

Oct 29th 2018, 6:30 AM

# bong bong bong

More than two thirds of voters want to keep the Angelus

Irish looks to have repealed blasphemy from the Constitution, but voters are keen to keep the Angelus.

18.4k

Oct 27th 2018, 2:30 PM

Voices

Opinion: 'Religion is facing a crisis in the West - but here's why it's thriving in Asia'

Barry Dunning lives in Indonesia and has seen how much of a role religion plays in people’s lives in Asia.

16.3k

Oct 19th 2018, 7:00 AM

# quick quick quick

Today is your final chance to register to vote in the presidential election and blasphemy referendum

Get your skates on.

19.5k

Oct 9th 2018, 10:20 AM

# Theodore McCarrick

Vatican refutes claims that Pope Francis covered up US cardinal's misconduct

Pope Francis approved a study into how the US cardinal rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church despite allegations against him.

12.8k

Oct 8th 2018, 10:39 AM

# baptism barrier

Religion to be formally removed as entry-requirement from most primary schools from today

The so-called ‘baptism barrier’ is set to be removed by the Minister for Education today.

34.3k

120

Oct 3rd 2018, 7:53 AM

# compensation

Boots pharmacy which questioned man about hydrogen peroxide 'discriminated on grounds of race'

The man said he was seen as suspicious “because of the colour of his skin and his beard”.

78.0k

Sep 26th 2018, 6:00 AM

# Papal Visit

Varadkar urges Pope to provide full disclosure on child abuse by priests

Pope Francis is due to visit the country this weekend.

32.4k

145

Updated

Aug 24th 2018, 7:25 PM

# world meeting

Halligan says Church teaching on homosexuality 'evil' as LGBT issues under spotlight at RDS

Inside the venue, high-profile US Jesuit Fr James Martin said parishes needed to do more to include LGBT Catholics.

25.8k

112

Updated

Aug 23rd 2018, 4:50 PM

# book of mormon

Church urges followers to drop the Mormon name

Nelson, 93, said the decision on the proper terminology was revealed to him by God.

29.2k

Aug 20th 2018, 9:58 PM

# Papal Visit

Bishop of Limerick says Catholic Church must acknowledge 'dark' aspects of its history

Bishop Brendan Leahy made his comments ahead of the Pope’s visit to Ireland later this month.

11.6k

Aug 15th 2018, 1:52 PM

# Papal Visit

Half a million have signed up to see the Pope - but how Catholic is Ireland?

Pope Francis will be in Ireland for two days, 25 and 26 August, as part of the World Meeting of Families event.

28.7k

240

Aug 11th 2018, 10:00 PM

# no plans

Leo Varadkar: 'There will be no burqa ban in Ireland'

Denmark, France and Belgium are just some of the countries that have banned the burqa.

9.7k

Aug 5th 2018, 10:15 AM

# pastoral care

Irish Prison Service recruiting chaplains to 'encourage and support' inmates

There are vacancies in a number of prisons including Mountjoy.

14.2k

Jul 29th 2018, 4:00 PM

# Big show

Concert for Pope to feature Riverdance, Daniel O'Donnell and 'one of the largest stages ever' in Croke Park

Pope Francis arrives in Ireland on 25 August.

34.3k

Jul 19th 2018, 3:15 PM

# discrimination fears

Israel passes controversial law defining itself as a state of the Jewish people

Critics fear this will spark discrimination against its Arab citizens, which make up 20% of the population.

31.4k

255

Jul 19th 2018, 12:16 PM

# ministers and elders

Ministers 'hurt' over Presbyterian Church in Ireland's hardline stance on same-sex couples

Over 200 ministers and elders of the Church signed a letter outlining their feelings over decisions made at its 2018 General Assembly.

18.6k

Jul 6th 2018, 10:56 AM

# mother and baby home

Over 70 babies who died at Bethany Home - and one mother - to be named on new memorial stone

The stone will be unveiled next week.

16.3k

Jun 24th 2018, 4:00 PM

# cura

Catholic Church crisis pregnancy agency to close due to drop in demand

Cura, founded in 1977, is a crisis pregnancy support service associated with the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

31.9k

Jun 13th 2018, 7:52 PM

# Communion money

How much do children get on their Communion day and how much do parents spend?

It’s an expensive day all around, but how expensive are we talking?

27.9k

Jun 12th 2018, 6:12 AM

# Frances' story

'The nun made us put our hands on electrical panels to get an electric shock'

Abandoned, abused and abducted – this is one woman’s Magdalene story.

88.6k

Jun 9th 2018, 10:00 PM

# Northern Ireland

Presbyterian Church in Ireland votes against allowing gay couples to be full members

The policy also prevents the children of same-sex couples from being baptised in the church.

22.0k

Jun 8th 2018, 1:37 PM

# Euthanasia

'How can you cheer abortion?': Bishop 'horrified' by referendum celebrations

Alphonsus Cullinan said Catholic Yes voters “should go to confession”.

84.5k

121

Jun 1st 2018, 9:04 PM

# eighth referendum

Bishop says Catholics who voted Yes have sinned and should go to confession

Meanwhile, Father Brian D’Arcy said that he “wouldn’t like to attribute sin in this manner, at all”.

122k

619

May 28th 2018, 8:40 PM

# no religion

Parents in these 16 areas to be surveyed over demand for non-denominational schools

The government wants 400 multi- and non-denominational schools in place by 2030.

21.5k

May 28th 2018, 3:37 PM

# Catholic Church

Archbishop says he is 'deeply saddened' by referendum result

Eamon Martin, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has thanked “courageous” pro-life campaigners.

49.4k

May 27th 2018, 3:52 PM

# Pulpit

Priests ask for an end to referendum campaigning at mass

The Save the 8th campaign says it will not decline invitations.

48.3k

233

May 5th 2018, 10:22 AM

# Adoption

Oklahoma passes law allowing adoption agencies deny children to LGBT families on religious grounds

It’s similar to laws in at least five other states.

14.2k

218

May 4th 2018, 7:33 AM

Voices

Opinion: 'Religious instruction and worship should take place outside core school hours'

This proposal seeks to find a workable compromise between different belief groups at minimum cost, writes David Graham.

2.4k

154

Apr 5th 2018, 7:00 AM

# Good Friday

Devotees nail themselves to crosses at annual Good Friday ceremony in Philippines

The event is frowned upon by the Catholic Church.

20.1k

Mar 30th 2018, 2:06 PM

# rise in humanism

Number of Roman Catholic marriages reducing but it's still the most popular type of ceremony

The average age of grooms in Ireland is 36, while the average age of brides is 34.

20.7k

Mar 29th 2018, 5:31 PM

# Pope Benedict

Vatican communications chief quits over row about letter written by retired pope

Monsignor Dario Vigano was accused of manipulating a private letter written by Benedict XVI about Pope Francis.

21.1k

Mar 21st 2018, 10:38 PM

Voices

Retirement: 'For the first time in nearly forty years I could openly admit that I didn't believe in God'

Being an atheist principal and managing a Catholic school was a difficult balance to maintain, writes Peter Gunning.

183k

173

Mar 21st 2018, 7:00 AM

# Mary McAleese

Vast majority of people agree that Catholic Church is 'empire of misogyny'

Over 1,000 adults were polled about Mary McAleese’s comments.

24.6k

169

Mar 12th 2018, 10:30 PM