Pope Leo is the religious leader non-believers needed
His opposition to Donald Trump and the war on Iran is only a part of what makes Leo a unique and important figure in our time
Catholic Church
Rise of ‘new Catholics’ hardens battle lines between US and the Vatican
JD Vance’s recent comments reflect a growing movement of conservative believers promoting a more traditionalist, ethnocentric path
‘It’s a stereotype that Ireland is full of drinkers. It’s a problem all over the world’
Playwright and screenwriter Nancy Harris on her parents’ separation, the myth of family and her hit show The Dry
Bishop criticises ‘false’ depiction of Catholic schools as ‘grim places of indoctrination’
Groups funded by ‘ideological entities, many from outside the State’ are spreading distorted narrative, chair of bishops’ council says
‘Saving the family’ is really about putting women back in their boxes
An unholy trinity of conservatives, Christian nationalists and tech bros are planning to strip American women of their rights
School patronage: Can Hildegarde Naughton succeed where six other education ministers have failed?
Much of the opposition to divestment has been at local level, strongly felt and expressed, even by non-practising parents happy with the status quo
It is dangerous to play God – unless you’re God
Right before Pope Leo was elected, Trump put out a meme of himself as the pope
The audacity of newbie Catholic JD Vance lecturing Pope Leo is breathtaking
It has been disconcerting to see US Catholics belatedly turning on Trump. Where was the outrage before now?
Pope Leo’s strong voice finds an audience - even among non-believers
Rite & Reason: In criticising the pope so harshly, Donald Trump seems to have lost the run of himself
Look at what lurks behind Donald Trump’s rants
The president is hurting the most vulnerable people in the US
Pope Leo takes a stand for peace at the risk of riling Trump
Pontiff doubles down on excoriating criticism of military aggressors in the face of Trump’s ire
Do You Come from Gomorrah? review: Five stars for Frank McGuinness’s startlingly revelatory play
Ryan Donaldson gives an immensely poised performance in this monologue play about gay self-loathing, sexual abuse and sectarian bigotry
Religion and Irish in schools
No Irish language organisation teaches that non-Irish speakers will go to hell
Trump accused of ‘sacrilege’ over Jesus image by influential Irish-American organisation
Ancient Order of Hibernians says US president’s criticism of Pope Leo and AI-generated image has ‘deeply offended’ Catholics
No rest for JD Vance as Trump gets cross with the pope again
Just back from fruitless negotiations with Iran, the US vice-president found himself having to address a fraught new episode in the uneasy relationship between church and state in America
Is it time to get religion out of the classroom?
Two in five parents of pupils in religious-run schools would prefer a multi-denominational ethos
Pope Leo vows to continue Iran war critiques after Trump attacks
Pontiff said he will ‘continue to speak out loudly against war’
Why the failure of Noël Browne’s mother and child scheme still matters 75 years later
Proposals for free, universal healthcare were successfully blocked by the medical profession with support from the Catholic Church
People of faith have something very important to contribute in a time of worrying polarisation
Rite & Reason: Structured dialogue must hear from Catholics, Humanists, the Abrahamic and Dharmic faith traditions, Rabbis and Imams
Further 36 infant remains recovered at Tuam mother and baby home site
Programme under way to identify remains of infants through DNA, as latest bodies buried in coffins
The Irish Times view on school divestment: painfully slow
A substantial minority do not want religious patronage and the State , has a duty to meet that demand
Catholic school patrons open to change – but choice is theirs, Minister says
Government-commissioned survey found parental support for changing ethos in schools
Denial of a vocation to women isn’t just ‘discomfort’, it is spiritual abuse
Rite & Reason: Discomfort is a word I have never used to describe the reality of my situation in the church, nor have I ever heard it from other women
Crowd gathers in Dublin’s Phoenix Park for Good Friday pilgrimage
Prayers, readings and choral singing mark the beginning of the Easter weekend
In 1980s Dublin, the communists had the best Good Friday shindigs
The goo – a longing for draught Guinness which overtakes the sufferer – contributed to left-wing causes in Dublin city
‘I have yet to tell my father’: New Catholics on converting to the church this Easter
Mario Durán Domínguez and Joy Adedokun are among 129 people of mostly foreign backgrounds who are joining the church in Dublin this year
Why the increase in London parents attending Mass? I thought they were all mad but soon joined
A reported surge in mass-going was based on soft data, but hard evidence can still be found of how keen parents are on church
Israel allows access to Jerusalem church after blocking a Catholic leader
Decision to block cardinal from Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday sparked outcry
He lambasted Ireland in the New York Times for locking up children. Now he may be sainted
What would Edward Flanagan say about a wealthy Ireland where children in care are put in unregulated emergency placements?
There’s more than one elephant in the room when it comes to schools and religion
Some parents want faith-based education
Teachers fear being fired if they speak out about religious discrimination
Schools may take action to stop teachers “undermining the religious ethos” of the school. This has a chilling effect
Spanish Catholic group draws backlash over vote to exclude women in Easter procession
Members carry religious floats during Holy Week celebrations
Irish priest moves closer to sainthood after being declared venerable by Pope Leo
Fr Edward Flanagan, born in 1886, has passed the second of four steps to canonisation
Write on: Eamon Maher on the legacy of novelist John McGahern, who died 20 years ago
The writer’s trajectory was not always a smooth one, but his star continues to rise
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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