Rights groups rounded on the Catholic Church today after Bishops called for TDs to be allowed a free vote on new civil partnership laws.

The pope today condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as a “brutal terrorist attack” and prayed that further violence would be avoided following her death.

AT the launch of the Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter, ‘Alcohol — the Challenge of Moderation’, people were invited to consider reducing their intake by a third, a half or to abstain completely for four weeks or for Lent.

IRISH bishops have condemned the death sentence imposed on deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

A group of gay men in Cork has written a letter to all Catholic bishops in Ireland criticising their attitude to homosexuality.