Ireland
Why the Catholic Church lost in Ireland
By Mark Silk — May 29, 2018
The failure was partly intellectual.
Irish vote shows need for new pro-life strategy
By Thomas Reese — May 27, 2018
(RNS) — Pro-life advocates should strongly support programs that give women a real choice — increasing the minimum wage, free or affordable day care and health care, parental leave programs, education and job-training programs, and income and food supplements.
Some Irish Catholics worried, dismayed after abortion vote
By Paul O'Donnell — May 27, 2018
DUBLIN (AP) — Irish Catholics attending Sunday Mass were disappointed with the result of a referendum in which voters opted to legalize abortion and think it reflects the weakening of the church.
Exit polls suggest Irish voters have repealed abortion ban
By Paul O'Donnell — May 25, 2018
DUBLIN (AP) — After a 'raw and very personal debate,' the Irish vote today on whether to scrap an amendment to their constitution that outlaws almost all abortions.
Pope confirms plans to visit Dublin for August family rally
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 21, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — It will be the first papal trip to Ireland since the explosion of sex abuse cases sorely compromised the Catholic Church's moral authority.
Catholicism down in Ireland, but some see hope
By Martin E. Marty — March 12, 2018
Readers of Sightings may be aware that we don’t favor reporting only on “declinism,” as in “decline and fall” stories. But it would be no favor to readers, or to reality itself, were we to close our eyes to stories like Maynooth’s.
Beyond Halloween: Witches, devils, trials and executions
By Thomas Reese — October 24, 2017
(RNS) — As Halloween approaches, the Rev. David Collins, a Jesuit professor of history at Georgetown University, takes us back to a time in European history when witches were persecuted and executed by society.
As Catholic influence in Ireland wanes, some hope abortion will be legalized
By Karen Huber — May 16, 2017
DUBLIN (RNS) The parallel tracks on which the Roman Catholic Church and Irish civil society run appear to be separating.
Suicide among priests?
By Martin E. Marty — December 21, 2016
From the prosperous-appearing church of 1979 to the disappearing church of 2016, the Irish experience elicits responses on countless grounds.
Brexit victory prompts prayers amid economic, political turmoil
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 24, 2016
(RNS) While backers of Britain's exodus from the European Union celebrated, faith leaders focused on the vote's impact on society's most vulnerable.
Ireland is for gay marriage because it is Catholic (COMMENTARY)
By Paul F. Morrissey — May 27, 2015
The Irish are lovers. It doesn't matter who the partners are -- "I promise to love you all the days of my life, so help me God."
Vatican: Gay marriage victory in Ireland ‘a defeat for humanity’
By Reuters — May 27, 2015
The Vatican Secretary of State told Vatican Radio the resounding success of the vote for same sex marriage in Ireland was more than just "a defeat for Christian principles."
Ireland gay-marriage vote a ‘reality check’ for church (ANALYSIS)
By Kim Hjelmgaard — May 26, 2015
About 85 percent of people polled in Ireland's census in 2011 identified as Catholic. The church runs more than 90 percent of Ireland's public schools.
Ireland’s gay marriage referendum a sign of Roman Catholic decline
By Trevor Grundy — May 20, 2015
(RNS) Were the gay marriage amendment to pass, it would be a heavyweight punch to the body of the church that for centuries governed every aspect of life in Ireland.
Irish PM says country must seize opportunity to approve gay marriage
By Reuters — May 18, 2015
DUBLIN (Reuters) Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said that Ireland must seize its opportunity to become the first country to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote on Friday.
