The Priests will be headline performers at the climax of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin yesterday called for an independent international commission of inquiry to be established into the crimes of the late Brendan Smyth.

Priests have welcomed the apostolic visitation’s acknowledgement that further work needs to be completed by the Catholic Church here to ensure that clerics on leave following abuse allegations are all being treated the same across the dioceses.

A LIMERICK schoolboy, with lightening fast hand-eye co-ordination, is hoping to book his place on the Irish team to travel to the US next month for a major international sports championships.

IN the darkness that accompanies suicide, it is entirely appropriate that an annual commemoration for bereaved families is called a Celebration of Light.

IN an interview published on June 28 with Eamon Gilmore, leader of the Labour party, your political correspondent Shaun Connolly wrote that Mr Gilmore urges “… Pope Benedict XVI to ‘temper’ statements such as claiming that ‘saving’ humanity from homosexuality was as important as protecting the rain forests.

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

THE Government was accused last night by Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin of squandering the public wealth of the last decade which should have been used to improve school buildings, supports for immigrant children and reduce class sizes.

Church scandals must not put off young men from joining the priesthood, the Archbishop of Dublin said today.

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.