A second bishop was dramatically removed from the Catholic hierarchy over child sex abuse scandals tonight, with another three senior clerics expected to face the same fall from grace.

Irish Catholic bishops tonight asked for forgiveness over the Church cover-up of paedophile priests.

THE advisory committee which tried to prevent the publication of a damning report into alleged child sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne was appointed by, and is answerable to, Bishop of Cloyne John Magee.

ONLY one in three women with a crisis pregnancy have attended counselling services, it emerged yesterday.

THE most senior figure in the Catholic church has criticised sections of the nation’s media for their “almost exclusively secular” interests and called on the public to only buy newspapers which are consistent with their “moral values and religious ideals”.

A group of Christians determined to address what they claim are the myths of The Da Vinci Code are to offer the Irish public a mental health warning on the film before it hits cinema screens.

THE Child Protection Office of the Irish Bishops’ Conference was established in July 2001 to advise bishops, clergy and lay people on best practice in responding to complaints of child abuse against members of the Catholic Church.

Catholic bishops have ordered the pregnancy counselling service, CURA, to stop offering women a leaflet which names other Irish agencies prepared to give information on foreign abortions.

The Government’s failure to honour its commitment on overseas aid is “deeply disappointing”, the newly formed Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs said today.

A retired woman judge was today confirmed as the head of an independent inquiry established by the Catholic Church to look into child sex abuse by the clergy and action taken in response by the authorities.

Three bodies representing religious orders in Ireland have established an independent commission to uncover the truth about clerical child sex abuse within the Catholic Church in Ireland.