A priest facing several sex abuse allegations asked to be dismissed and went on to work in a job which gave him access to children, the church watchdog has found.

The Church of Ireland has appointed its first ever female Bishop.

In his first address to his diocese, the new Bishop of Cloyne threw down the gauntlet to the banks, warning they need to “do more of the heavy lifting” as the financial crisis is crushing ordinary people.

Cardinal Sean Brady has vowed to vigorously oppose any Government proposals to legislate for abortion in Ireland.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is again refusing to be drawn on whether the Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady should resign over his handling of abuse allegations against Father Brendan Smyth in the 1970s.

Specialist detectives are reviewing claims that Cardinal Sean Brady knew in 1975 that five children were being abused by one of the country’s most dangerous paedophiles, Fr Brendan Smyth.

Ireland's most senior cleric Cardinal Sean Brady said today his role in a 1975 investigation into paedophile Brendan Smyth had been exaggerated.

Cardinal Sean Brady is expected to give a statement later about claims in a BBC documentary that he failed to act in 1975 to save children from being abused by paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland was warned by a 14-year-old victim of Fr Brendan Smyth that the paedophile priest was likely abusing five more named children — but failed to take action.

CARDINAL Seán Brady has strongly defended the seal of confession and reiterated the Church’s opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady is calling for prayers for the people of Japan.

THE Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has warned that “uncontrolled growth” dominated by personal and intellectual greed and ambition inevitably leads to a divided society.

I WOULD be grateful if you or your readers could explain how two of the leading figures in Irish public life have reached their exalted positions while displaying a level of self-importance and egomania second to none. They are the Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, Seán Brady, and Health Minister Mary Harney.

Cardinal Sean Brady has said he intends to stay on in his position as the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

A Catholic Church spokesman has categorically dismissed speculation that Cardinal Sean Brady has suffered a heart attack.

The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight said he “had no intention of criticising or attacking” the Catholic Church after an interview in which he appeared to suggest the Church in Ireland had lost all credibility over the child abuse scandal.

The Church of Ireland's Archbishop of Dublin said today that he regrets the comments made by the Archbishop of Canterbury about the clerical sex abuse scandal in Ireland.

Mass has been celebrated at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh following the arrival of the remains of Cardinal Cahal Daly.

Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, has asked for prayers for Cardinal Cahal Daly.

CATHOLIC bishops are waiting to see the details of guarantees on the Lisbon treaty before indicating their position on it, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, has said.

President Mary McAleese is to attend the Vatican ceremony where Catholic Primate Sean Brady is to be made a Cardinal on November 24, it emerged tonight.

The Bishop of Connor has been elected Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, it was announced this afternoon.

The Bishops of the Church of Ireland meet in Dublin this week to elect a new primate.

DUP leader Ian Paisley is today meeting the Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Sean Brady as optimism grows that crunch talks on power sharing could produce a breakthrough.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today address a major conference of the Catholic Church that is exploring the values inspiring Irish political and social life.

Dr Sean Brady, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has called on the Government to reach our overseas aid target by 2010.

THERE will not be a national day of mourning for the Pope, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

POPE John Paul II was nearing death last night as his health suddenly worsened, drawing anguished prayers from Catholics around the world reluctant to accept his historic pontificate was at an end.

THOUSANDS of people gathered in churches last night to pray for Pope John Paul II as his health began to deteriorate rapidly.

The Catholic Primate of Ireland has said that an alternative to photographic evidence must be found to provide certainty IRA decommissioning has taken place.