Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Tuesday 28 March 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# 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.
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.
# kiev
Ukraine Orthodox priests to establish church independent from Russia
Ukrainian authorities hope it will be a further step out of Russia’s orbit.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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Irish looks to have repealed blasphemy from the Constitution, but voters are keen to keep the Angelus.
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.
# quick quick quick
Today is your final chance to register to vote in the presidential election and blasphemy referendum
Get your skates on.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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”.
# Papal Visit
Varadkar urges Pope to provide full disclosure on child abuse by priests
Pope Francis is due to visit the country this weekend.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# pastoral care
Irish Prison Service recruiting chaplains to 'encourage and support' inmates
There are vacancies in a number of prisons including Mountjoy.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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?
# 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.
# 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.
# Euthanasia
'How can you cheer abortion?': Bishop 'horrified' by referendum celebrations
Alphonsus Cullinan said Catholic Yes voters “should go to confession”.
# 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”.
# 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.
# 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.
# Pulpit
Priests ask for an end to referendum campaigning at mass
The Save the 8th campaign says it will not decline invitations.
# 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.
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.
# Good Friday
Devotees nail themselves to crosses at annual Good Friday ceremony in Philippines
The event is frowned upon by the Catholic Church.
# 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.
# 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.
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.
# 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.