IT IS difficult not to have at least a smidgen of admiration for anyone who commits to a life as a cleric in these pluralist, disinterested and unbelieving times.

WHEN you’re in a hole, the old saying goes, you should stop digging. Michael McDowell cited it recently, as he elegantly side-stepped public odium by allowing Nigerian student Kunle Elukanlo back into the country.

The Irish Bishops’ Conference called on the Government to do all in its power to create greater public awareness of suicide.