If similar surveys were undertaken in other countries, the results would be pretty much the same, writes Fr Seán McDonagh

WELL, they would say that, wouldn’t they?

THE revelation that the Dublin Archdiocese — the country’s largest with over one million registered Catholics — is close to financial collapse is likely to be mirrored in other parts of the Church in Ireland.

THE Vatican denials that a 1997 letter to bishops urged them not to carry out mandatory reporting of clerical child sex abuse was labelled “dishonest spin” by anti-abuse campaigners.

ARCHBISHOP of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has broken his week-long silence following the controversial speech where he spoke of “strong forces” operating within the Church to state that “he stands by the affirmations in his original speech”.

UNDER-FIRE bishops are likely to face further pressure, following direct criticism by the Pope of their handling of clerical child sex abuse.

The Pope has apologised to the victims of clerical sex abuse in Ireland, saying he is "truly sorry".

The Pope is set to sign off on a letter to Irish Catholics today dealing with clerical child abuse.

ABUSE victims have maintained the pressure on Cardinal Seán Brady to resign over his handling of paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth, despite issuing another apology yesterday in which he acknowledged shame at his own past failings.

CARDINAL Seán Brady has vowed to reflect on the views of child abuse victims, amid continuing calls for his resignation over allegations that he was involved in a cover-up of abuse by the notorious paedophile priest, Fr Brendan Smyth, 35 years ago.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland remained under intense pressure to step down tonight despite apologising for not alerting gardaí about a paedophile priest.

The Pope said today he hoped his forthcoming letter to Irish Catholics on the sex abuse scandal in the Church helps with the process of “repentance, healing and renewal”.

A Vatican meeting between Irish bishops and Pope Benedict XVI gets under way today with the past handling of child abuse scandals on the agenda.

A jobs fair aimed at bringing the talents of young Irish people back home was under way today in the heart of wealthy Manhattan.