Social welfare and child benefit rates must be maintained before the deepening divisions in society are embedded, it was claimed.

The town of Ballina has been rocked by the sudden death of a local priest in what is believed to be the first case in recent years of a Catholic cleric in Ireland taking his own life.

ALMOST two thirds of families experiencing marriage problems have financial difficulties, according to Catholic marriage counsellors, ACCORD.

THE Department of Education has said any problems about the transfer of ownership arising out of a change in patronage of primary schools should be overcome through goodwill and leasing arrangements.

THE country’s most senior Church figure yesterday directly appealed to the Government not to cut Ireland’s overseas aid to developing countries.

THIRTY-SIX men are due to begin studies this year to enter the Catholic priesthood – the highest number in over a decade.

THE Christian Brothers yesterday announced its 206-year involvement in the education system will come to an end in September.

IRISH MEPs were caught between the Irish Bishops and the Irish Heart Foundation when they came to vote on rules for new medical treatments in the European Parliament.

IRISH bishops last night condemned government proposals to lower the age of sexual consent to 16.

Pope Benedict XVI today revealed his horror at the behaviour of more than 20 priests who sexually abused children in the Diocese of Ferns.

A state vetting system for people who work with children should be implemented to protect youngsters in Ireland, the Catholic Church said today.

The Pope’s death has deprived the Irish people of his final message to them, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern heard tonight.

CATHOLIC bishops are to allow schools to decide whether or not to open on Church holidays after disputes on the issue in some parts of the country last year.

CONSERVATIONISTS are threatening to occupy disused churches in a bid to prevent their sale to private investors for millions of euro.

The Government looks set to order an official inquiry into child sex abuse allegations against the late Father Sean Fortune.