THE decision of Pope Francis to suspend Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has brought worldwide attention to his lavish spending. But it’s also drawn attention to the special relationship that the Catholic Church has with the German state.

A MAN appeared before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court late last night in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Brazilian woman in Roscommon town.

Pope Benedict XVI today met with the leader of the World Council of Churches in another indication of his attempts to improve relations with other Christians and heal the 1,000-year-old rift with the Orthodox Church.